Targeting COX-2 potently inhibits proliferation of cancer cells but not in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is an inducible enzyme which promotes tumorigenesis in many types of cancers. Genetic knockout of COX-2 significantly suppresses the tumorigenesis of skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, COX-2 inhibitor treatment only showed mild to moderate inhibition on SCC in previous reports.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor Calcrl is enriched in hair follicles stem cells and differentially expressed in interfollicular epidermis in murine skin.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and adrenomedullin are structurally similar neuropeptides acting as potent vasodilators of blood pressure and mediator of inflammation in skin. Revealing the expression pattern of their common receptor-Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (Calcrl) in their targeted cells is important to explain the functions of CGRP and adrenomedullin in skin. Our immunostaining results showed that Calcrl is enriched in hair follicles bulge stem cells and differentially expressed in basal stem cells of interfollicular epidermis.

EGFL6 expression in hair follicle central isthmus is dependent on the presence of terminal Schwann cells.

Hair follicle central isthmus is surrounded by dense nerve endings and terminal Schwann cells (TSCs), forming a specialized sensory structure called lanceolate complexes. Extracellular matrix protein EGFL6 expressed from epidermis has been found closely associated with lanceolate complexes and important for proper alignment of nerve fibres and TSCs processes, and for proper response to light touch. However, how EGFL6 itself is specifically induced/deposited/maintained at the central isthmus remains to be elucidated.