Gerard F. Cauwenbergh

Trypsin-induced follicular papilla apoptosis results in delayed hair growth and pigmentation

Programmed cell death is a controlled process that leads to the elimination of single cells via apoptosis. Programmed cell death is fundamental to development, morphogenesis, and homeostasis. Proteases play a major role in the death process. We have previously shown that a serine protease, secreted by a keratinocyte cell line, can induce apoptosis in numerous cell lines. Here we show that serine proteases can induce cell death in vivo as well. Using a synchronized hair growth mouse model, we show that topical trypsin treatment following depilation induces cell death at the follicular papilla. This results in delaying hair growth and pigmentation. We speculate that trypsin might affect a receptor‐mediated signaling pathway that leads to follicular papilla cell death. Dev. Dyn. 208:553–564, 1997.