Figure 4.

Expression of Wnts and their signal transduction cascade in the hair follicle. (A) Wnts 3a, 4, 5a, and 7a were expressed in the GFP-negative population from the initial sort that includes follicular epithelial cells from anagen hair follicles (HF). Note that the Wnt4 reaction was extended an additional six cycles to detect lower transcript levels. Of the Wnts analyzed, only Wnt5a was detected in the GFP positive population (DP). (B) Expression of genes encoding the Wnt signal transduction cascade was analyzed in DP cells immediately after isolation (DP) or after three passages in the absence of other cell types or exogenous factors (P3). frizzled7 (fz7), disheveled2 (dsv2), GSK3, β-catenin (β-cat), and Lef1 were all expressed in freshly isolated DP cells. After three passages, expression of frizzled7, disheveled2, and Lef1 was reduced.