October 2024 in “Developmental Dynamics” The document highlights recent advances in developmental biology, focusing on three studies. The first study establishes a zebrafish model for Diamond-Blackfan anemia like (DBAL), showing that epoa-deficient zebrafish can be used to screen treatments for anemia, with recombinant human EPO improving erythrocyte numbers. The second study investigates the role of Alx4 in craniofacial and hair development, using Alx4fx/fx conditional mice to explore the mechanisms of ALX4-related disorders and alopecia, finding that Alx4 loss leads to developmental defects and hair loss. The third study examines the mTORC1 signaling pathway's role in retinal development, demonstrating that its disruption in retinal progenitor cells causes lamination deficits and visual behavior loss, highlighting mTORC1's importance in CNS histogenesis.
September 2019 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” New RIPK4 gene mutations were found to cause a type of skin and limb birth defect.
November 2022 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Deleting the CD271 gene in mouse skin cells leads to disorganized skin and increased hair growth, suggesting CD271 is important for skin health.
33 citations
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September 2017 in “Journal of clinical immunology” New treatments for immune disorders caused by FOXN1 deficiency are promising.
123 citations
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November 2003 in “Neuroscience Letters” TRPV4 helps sense pressure in mouse skin.
36 citations
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February 1998 in “Journal of Anatomy” Fibre optic confocal imaging can visualize skin layers, blood vessels, and nerves in live mice.
32 citations
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November 2016 in “Journal of Dental Research” Pannexin 3 is important for bone formation and the development of bone cells.
April 2023 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Krox20 (Egr2) is important for the function of epithelial stem cells.
April 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” DPP4 is important for scarring and skin regeneration, and managing its activity could improve skin healing treatments.
92 citations
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May 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” 
January 2023 in “Han'gug mi'saengmul saengmyeong gong haghoeji/Han-guk misaengmul saengmyeong gonghak hoeji” NOC-4 extract promotes black hair and hair growth effectively.
October 2014 in “Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano)” A new type of nerve cell involved in itch perception was discovered.
16 citations
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December 2019 in “Animals” Overexpressing Tβ4 in goats' hair follicles increases cashmere production and hair follicle growth.
7 citations
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August 2008 in “Immunogenetics” A gene mutation in mice causes increased mast cells and disorganized hair follicles in their skin.
November 2025 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Certain immune cells in atopic dermatitis skin could be targeted for treatment.
27 citations
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March 2019 in “PLoS ONE” Thyroxine (T4) may help heal skin wounds by promoting new skin and blood vessel growth.
28 citations
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January 2016 in “Vitamins and hormones” Thymosin β4 helps improve skin healing and reduce scarring.
41 citations
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January 2015 in “Development” Atoh1 expression can create new Merkel cells in the skin.
53 citations
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August 2019 in “American journal of human genetics” FOXN1 gene variants cause low T cells and immune issues from birth.
September 2023 in “The FASEB journal” Foxn1 is important for fat development, metabolism, and wound healing in skin.
September 2019 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Sox13 is a new marker for early hair follicle development and differentiation.
May 2023 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” EAAT4 decreases with age, harming skin function and calcium balance.
A protein called sFRP4 can partly inhibit hair growth.
25 citations
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December 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” TRPV4 slows hair growth by affecting hair follicle cells.
29 citations
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February 2001 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” A specific DNA region controls skin cell gene expression by working with certain proteins.
July 2025 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Nelfb is essential for dermal fat development and survival.
15 citations
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January 2015 in “Stem cells international” Human hair follicle stem cells can be turned into red blood cells.
July 2025 in “Scientific Reports” Six key genes can predict bladder cancer outcomes and may serve as prognostic biomarkers.
83 citations
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February 1991 in “Development” Fos protein is crucial for cell transition to cornification in keratinized tissues.
Researchers created a new mouse model, G4, that mimics human PCOS symptoms and links the condition to a specific gene.