Role of the ABCA4 Gene Expression in the Clearance of Toxic Vitamin A Derivatives in Human Hair Follicle Stem Cells and Keratinocytes

The ABCA4 gene encodes an ATP-binding cassette transporter that is expressed specifically in the disc of photoreceptor outer segments. Mutations in the ABCA4 gene are the main cause of retinal degenerations known as ABCA4-retinopathies. Recent research has revealed that ABCA4 is expressed in other cells as well, such as hair follicles and keratinocytes, although no information on its significance has been evidenced so far. In this study, we investigated the role of the ABCA4 gene in human keratinocytes and hair follicle stem cells for the first time. We have shown that silencing the ABCA4 gene increases the deleterious effect of all-trans-retinal on human hair follicle stem cells.

Automated summary

The ABCA4 gene is specifically expressed in the disc of photoreceptor outer segments and mutations in this gene are the main cause of ABCA4-retinopathies. Recent research has found that ABCA4 is expressed in hair follicles and keratinocytes, but its significance remains unknown. A new study investigated the role of ABCA4 gene in human keratinocytes and hair follicle stem cells for the first time and showed that silencing the ABCA4 gene enhances the harmful effects of all-trans-retinal on human hair follicle stem cells.