Deficiency in nucleotide excision repair (NER) family gene activity, especially ERCC3, is associated with non-pigmented hair fiber growth

ABSTRACT: The hair follicle bulb is the only site of pigment production for the hair shaft and melanogenically active melanocytes are located in the upper hair matrix. We conducted a microarray study to discover gene expression patterns that may be implicated in the lack of melanogenesis in gray hair follicles (HF). Pigmented and non-pigmented HFs collected from the same individuals were micro-dissected into the lower one third including the hair bulb (HB) and the upper hair shaft and sheaths (HS) including the bulge region. Microarray data was verified with qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Target effects were evaluated in vitro on human epidermal melanocytes (HEMs). In comparison to pigmented HS and HBs, several nucleotide excision repair (NER) family genes exhibited statistically significant lower expression both in non-pigmented HS and non-pigmented HB. These genes were identified as ERCC1, ERCC2, ERCC3, ERCC4, ERCC5, ERCC6, XPA, NTPBP, HCNP, DDB2 and POLH. Immunohistochemistry showed consistent results. By siRNA interference we also detected that a deficiency in ERCC3 in melanocytes reduced the ability to produce melanin in vitro. Our results suggest that loss of NER gene function may lead to DNA damage and mutation accumulation in melanocytes, which may possibly lead to cell death. Further, a loss of ERCC3 function may lead to reduced gene transcription and this in turn may lead to reduced melanin production ability. These results offer a new insight into the molecular changes that occur in non-pigmented HF and may also provide novel information with regard to melanogenesis and its regulation.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE24009 | GEO | 2010/10/18

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA130361

REPOSITORIES: GEO