Recent studies suggested that secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) augment Wnt-mediated β-catenin signaling and increase alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, an important indicator of DP activity. These findings prompted us to investigate the ...
Recent studies suggested that secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) augment Wnt-mediated β-catenin signaling and increase alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, an important indicator of DP activity. These findings prompted us to investigate the role of SFRP2 in human hair follicle and hair cycling. Herein we report that SFRP2 augments Wnt3a-mediated elevation of transcriptional activity of β-catenin, increasement of expression of β-catenin target genes and accumulation of β-catenin in nucleus of DP cells. In addition, SFRP2 and SFRP2 messenger RNA expression are most upregulated in follicular keratinocytes of early anagen stage during hair cycle progression. Moreover, SFRP2 is upregulated in non-balding DP cell compared with balding DP cell unlike dickkopf 1 (DKK1). Taken together, our data strongly suggest that SFPR2 is involved in maintain of anagen stage during the hair cycle by regulating the activity of Wnt/ β-catenin.