Objective     To study the expression pattern of

gasdermin

3 gene in synchronized mouse hair cycle.     Methods      A beeswax/rosin mixture was employed to remove all hair on the dorsal skin of twelve eight-week-old C57BL/6 female mice and to induce hair cycle synchronization. The mice were randomly divided into four groups

each with three mice. The skin samples of time points at 5

9

18 and 25 d after depilation were collected and subjected to RT-PCR

Western blotting

and immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing.     Results    

gasdermin

3 expression was detected in the selected four time points. The results of RT-PCR and WB were consistent

indicating that the gene expression increased gradually in anagen (5 and 9 d)

decreased in catagen (18 d)

and stayed at a low level in telogen (25 d). The IHC results demonstrated that

gasdermin

3 expression was localized in cell nuclei

and exhibited sustained expression in epidermis

independent of the hair cycle.

gasdermin

3 was expressed in the outer root sheath cells

hair matrix cells

inner root sheath cells

and hair shaft cells during anagen

as well as the residual inner root sheath cells and outer root sheath cells during catagen

but was rarely expressed during telogen.     Conclusion    

gasdermin

3 expression exists in all phases of hair cycle

showing the highest expression level in late anagen

and is localized in cell nuclei. Acting as a possible transcription factor

gasdermin

3 regulates the proliferation

differentiation and apoptosis of hair follicles and epidermal keratinocytes.