Interactions Between Epidermal Growth Factor and the Tabby Mutation in Skin

The study explored the interactions between epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the Tabby (Ta) mutation in mice, which is analogous to the EDA mutation in humans, both causing skin and hair follicle abnormalities. It was found that EGF levels were similar in various tissues of both Ta/Y and +/Y mice, except for reduced levels in the submaxillary glands of Ta/Y mice, likely due to smaller gland size. Exogenous EGF was observed to inhibit hair follicle development and reduce follicle density in both genotypes. The study concluded that the normal skin phenotype results from interactions between EGF and the Ta peptide, suggesting a complex relationship between EGF signaling and the Ta mutation in skin development.