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A Subset of TREM2+ Dermal Macrophages Secretes Oncostatin M to Maintain Hair Follicle Stem Cell Quiescence and Inhibit Hair Growth
Wang ECE, Dai Z, Ferrante AW, Drake CG, Christiano AM.. Cell stem cell, 2019-03-28
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Hair growth can be induced from resting mouse hair follicles by topical application of JAK inhibitors, suggesting that JAK-STAT signaling is required for maintaining hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) in a quiescent state. Here, we show that Oncostatin M (OSM), an IL-6 family cytokine, negatively regulates hair growth by signaling through JAK-STAT5 to maintain HFSC quiescence. Genetic deletion of the OSM receptor or STAT5 can induce premature HFSC activation, suggesting that the resting telogen stage is actively maintained by the hair follicle niche.
Key findings
- Here, we show that Oncostatin M (OSM), an IL-6 family cytokine, negatively regulates hair growth by signaling through JAK-STAT5 to maintain HFSC quiescence.
- Genetic deletion of the OSM receptor or STAT5 can induce premature HFSC activation, suggesting that the resting telogen stage is actively maintained by the hair follicle niche.
- Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that the OSM source is not intrinsic to the hair follicle itself and is instead a subset of TREM2 + macrophages that is enriched within the resting follicle and deceases immediately prior to HFSC activation.
- In vivo inhibition of macrophage function was sufficient to induce HFSC proliferation and hair cycle induction.
Why it matters
This study shows that a subset of TREM2+ dermal macrophages secretes Oncostatin M, which maintains hair follicle stem cell quiescence and inhibits hair growth in mice. It concerns hair growth, not Alzheimer's disease, and reports no Alzheimer's treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Cell stem cell) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Cell stem cell: journal h-index 372 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 181 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 20.1 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 23.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 73 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Angela M. Christiano: h-index 89 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Columbia University: institution h-index 1,824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30930146) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wang, E. C. E., Dai, Z., Ferrante, A. W., Drake, C. G., & Christiano, A. M. (2019). A Subset of TREM2+ Dermal Macrophages Secretes Oncostatin M to Maintain Hair Follicle Stem Cell Quiescence and Inhibit Hair Growth. Cell stem cell. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2019.01.011
Vancouver
Wang ECE, Dai Z, Ferrante AW, Drake CG, Christiano AM. A Subset of TREM2+ Dermal Macrophages Secretes Oncostatin M to Maintain Hair Follicle Stem Cell Quiescence and Inhibit Hair Growth. Cell stem cell. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2019.01.011. PMID: 30930146.
BibTeX
@article{wang2019-30930146,
author = {Wang, E. C. E. and Dai, Z. and Ferrante, A. W. and Drake, C. G. and Christiano, A. M.},
title = {{A Subset of TREM2+ Dermal Macrophages Secretes Oncostatin M to Maintain Hair Follicle Stem Cell Quiescence and Inhibit Hair Growth}},
journal = {Cell stem cell},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1016/j.stem.2019.01.011},
pmid = {30930146},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2019.01.011}
}
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