Expression of β-catenin in the development of human hair follicle

Objective:To study the expression and significance of β-catenin in the development of human hair follicle. Methods:]A total of 12 frozen tissues of skin from normal embryo and adult were stained by SP immunohistochemical method(IHC) with specific anti-β-catenin antibody. The expression of β-catenin in different phages of human hair follicles was analyzed.Results:Expression of β-catenin protein was significantly increased in the development period of human hair follicles, and it showed great correlation to the different phages. Expression of β-catenin was not detected in hair bud of early embryo skin, while appeared in outer root sheath and bulge of hair follicles in later development stage. And the strong expression was observed in adult skin tissues, which concentrated in the inside of outer root sheath. Conclusion:The expression and distribution of β-catenin was obviously distinct in the process of development, suggesting a possible role of β-catenin in the formation and development of human hair follicles.