The aim of this ICASE PhD project is to investigate the role of adipose tissue in hair follicle growth and cycling as a basis for novel therapeutic interventions. The research is in partnership with Unilever R&D.

Adipose tissue is a key constituent of human skin whose functions extend far beyond energy storage and thermoregulation. Several mutant mouse models with defects in adipocytes have elucidated some of these previously unknown roles. For example, a genetic mouse model lacking early B-cell factor 1(Ebf1) exhibited reduced intradermal adipocytes. Hair follicles in these mice failed to re-enter the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle and remained in the resting telogen stage (Hesslein 2009). This demonstrates the importance of pre-adipocytes in the promotion of telogen to anagen transition during the hair follicle cycle in mice, and has raised increasing interest in the role of the adipocyte-hair follicle communication in the regulation of hair growth.

However, the adipocyte-hair follicle communication in human skin, and how it may be manipulated in a clinically or cosmetically desirable manner, is entirely unknown. There is increasing insight into the importance of this bidirectional communication for hair follicle cycling and (murine) wave pattern formation, as well as adipocyte differentiation and function (Plikus 2008, Schmidt 2012, Donati 2014). As such, improved characterisation of this communication could provide novel targets and strategies for therapeutic intervention.

The mechanism behind the potential interaction of adipocyte signals with the hair follicle is not well understood but platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) signalling may play a significant role. PDGFA mRNA is significantly elevated in adipocyte precursor cells (Festa 2011) and mice lacking PDGFA show a delay in hair follicle stem cell activation (Tomita 2006). There is strong possibility that understanding and influencing signalling of intradermal adipocytes in the hair follicle microenvironment could impact the hair follicle with potential benefits such as promoting hair growth & prolonging the follicle growing phase.

This study will span the Centre for Dermatology Research and Unilever R&D facility, Colworth. Extensive training will be provided in histology, immunohistochemistry and state-of-the-art double-immunostaining and image analysis techniques. Carina will also become familiar with light, fluorescent and confocal microscopy, qRT-PCR and gene silencing in intact human skin/hair follicles.