Growth factors in hair organ development and the hair growth cycle

Growth factors are polypeptides that regulate growth and differentiation of many cell types. Different growth factor families including the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related ligands, fibroblast growth factors (FGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) have been shown to be crucial for the regulation of the hair cycle and hair growth. Growth factors and their receptors have been localized to the skin and hair follicles. Their biological activities on cells comprising the hair follicle have been tested in vitro and increasingly in transgenic mice. Herein we review selected important aspects of growth factors with regard to the hair organ, its development, and the hair growth cycle.