Objective  To study the expression changes of β-catenin in the hair follicle before and after GasderminA3 gene mutation.   Methods  Using  SP immunohistochemical staining

RT-PCR

Western blotting to detect the expression of β-catenin in the hair follicle in GSDMa3 mutant and C57BL/6 (B6) mice  on postnatal 11 (anagen)

16 (early catagen)

18 (late catagen) and 24 d (telogen) respectively.    Results  The expression of β-catenin is gradually weakened from 11 d to 24 d in GSDMa3 mutation mice and B6 mice

but stronger expression was found in GSDMa3 mutation mice than in the B6 mice at different time points. In anagen

β-catenin was expressed in the inner and outer root sheath and hair matrix cells

with stronger expression in GSDMa3 mutant mice than in B6 mice. In catagen

β-catenin was mainly expressed in the outer root sheath and hair matrix cells

with more stronger expression in GSDMa3 mutant mice than in B6 mice. In telogen

β-catenin was expressed in the outer root sheath cells in the mutant mice while little in the hair follicle in B6 mice.   Conclusion  GSDMa3 gene affects the hair follicle growth and development

probably through regulating the expression of β-catenin.