F1000Res. 2016 Feb 08;5. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.7520.1. eCollection 2016.
F1000Research
Bruno A Bernard
PMID: 26918186 PMCID: PMC4755418 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.7520.1
In this short review, I introduce an integrated vision of human hair follicle behavior and describe opposing influences that control hair follicle homeostasis, from morphogenesis to hair cycling. The interdependence and complementary roles of these influences allow us to propose that the hair follicle is a true paradigm of a "Yin Yang" type, that is a cold/slow-hot/fast duality. Moreover, a new promising field is emerging, suggesting that glycans are key elements of hair follicle growth control.
Keywords: Glyco-biology; alopecia; glycan; hair cycling; hair follicle biology