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Citation
Tags
HERO ID
193270
Reference Type
Journal Article
Subtype
Review
Title
The hairless mouse in skin research
Author(s)
Benavides, F; Oberyszyn, TM; Vanbuskirk, AM; Reeve, VE; Kusewitt, DF
Year
2009
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Journal of Dermatological Science
ISSN:
0923-1811
Volume
53
Issue
1
Page Numbers
10-18
Language
English
PMID
18938063
DOI
10.1016/j.jdermsci.2008.08.012
Web of Science Id
WOS:000262622200003
Abstract
The hairless (Hr) gene encodes a transcriptional co-repressor highly expressed in the mammalian skin. In the mouse, several null and hypomorphic Hr alleles have been identified resulting in hairlessness in homozygous animals, characterized by alopecia developing after a single cycle of relatively normal hair growth. Mutations in the human ortholog have also been associated with congenital alopecia. Although a variety of hairless strains have been developed, outbred SKH1 mice are the most widely used in dermatologic research. These unpigmented and immunocompetent mice allow for ready manipulation of the skin, application of topical agents, and exposure to UVR, as well as easy visualization of the cutaneous response. Wound healing, acute photobiologic responses, and skin carcinogenesis have been extensively studied in SKH1 mice and are well characterized. In addition, tumors induced in these mice resemble, both at the morphologic and molecular levels, UVR-induced skin malignancies in man. Two limitations of the SKH1 mouse in dermatologic research are the relatively uncharacterized genetic background and its outbred status, which precludes inter-individual transplantation studies.
Keywords
Hairless mice; Ultraviolet rays; Skin neoplasms; Wound healing; Skin aging
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