This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Peters, E. M. J. Articles by Arck, P. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Peters, E. M. J. Articles by Arck, P. C.

(American Journal of Pathology. 2004;165:259-271.)
© 2004 American Society for Investigative Pathology

Neurogenic Inflammation in Stress-Induced Termination of Murine Hair Growth Is Promoted by Nerve Growth Factor

Eva Milena J. Peters^*, Bori Handjiski^*, Arne Kuhlmei^*, Evelin Hagen^*, Hannes Bielas^*, Armin Braun, Burghard F. Klapp^*, Ralf Paus and Petra Clara Arck^*

From the Center for Biomedical Research, Charité,^* University Medicine Berlin, Germany; the Department of Immunology and Allergology, Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany; and the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

Recently, we have revealed the existence of a "brain-hair follicle axis" in murine skin and have identified the neuropeptide substance P (SP) as a key mediator of stress-induced hair growth inhibition in vivo. Published evidence suggests that increased numbers of SP-immunoreactive sensory fibers, as seen in the dermis of stressed mice in anagen-catagen transition, are a result of transient high levels of nerve growth factor (NGF). Thus, we now aimed at dissecting the role of NGF in stress-triggered hair growth termination in our murine model. By real time PCR and immunohistochemistry, stress-exposed mice showed an up-regulation of NGF and its low-affinity receptor p75NTR; the NGF high-affinity receptor TrkA was moderately down-regulated. On neutralization of NGF, premature onset of catagen, apoptosis, and increased number/activation of perifollicular mast cells and antigen-presenting cells, which reflects the skin response to stress, was significantly abrogated. Stress or subcutaneous injection of recombinant NGF (to mimic stress) resulted in an increased percentage of SP⁺ neurons in dorsal root ganglia, as measured by retrograde tracing. Taken together, these data suggest that NGF is a central element in the perifollicular neurogenic inflammation that develops during the murine skin response to stress and antagonizing NGF may be a promising therapeutic approach to counter the negative effect of stress on hair growth.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Hondermarck Nerve Growth Factor: The Dark Side of the Icon Am. J. Pathol., April 1, 2008; 172(4): 865 - 867. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M.J. Peters, S. Liotiri, E. Bodo, E. Hagen, T. Biro, P. C. Arck, and R. Paus Probing the Effects of Stress Mediators on the Human Hair Follicle: Substance P Holds Central Position Am. J. Pathol., December 1, 2007; 171(6): 1872 - 1886. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Tometten, S. Blois, A. Kuhlmei, A. Stretz, B. F. Klapp, and P. C. Arck Nerve Growth Factor Translates Stress Response and Subsequent Murine Abortion via Adhesion Molecule-Dependent Pathways Biol Reprod, April 1, 2006; 74(4): 674 - 683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M.J. Peters, S. Hendrix, G. Golz, B. F. Klapp, P. C. Arck, and R. Paus Nerve Growth Factor and its Precursor Differentially Regulate Hair Cycle Progression in Mice J. Histochem. Cytochem., March 1, 2006; 54(3): 275 - 288. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M.J. Peters, M. G. Stieglitz, C. Liezman, R. W. Overall, M. Nakamura, E. Hagen, B. F. Klapp, P. Arck, and R. Paus p75 Neurotrophin Receptor-Mediated Signaling Promotes Human Hair Follicle Regression (Catagen) Am. J. Pathol., January 1, 2006; 168(1): 221 - 234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Peters The Self-Similarity of the Melanocortin System Endocrinology, February 1, 2005; 146(2): 529 - 531. [Full Text] [PDF]