Here, we studied how epithelial energy metabolism impacts overall skin development by selectively deleting intraepithelial mitochondrial DNA in mice by ablating a key maintenance factor (Tfam(EKO)), which induces loss of function of the electron transport chain (ETC). Quantitative (immuno)histomorphometry demonstrated that Tfam(EKO) mice showed significantly reduced hair follicle (HF) density and morphogenesis, fewer intrafollicular keratin15+ epithelial progenitor cells, increased apoptosis, and reduced proliferation. Tfam(EKO) mice also displayed premature entry into (aborted) HF cycling by apoptosis-driven HF regression (catagen). Ultrastructurally, Tfam(EKO) mice exhibited severe HF dystrophy, pigmentary abnormalities and telogen-like condensed dermal papillae. Epithelial HF progenitor cell differentiation (Plet1, Lrig1 Lef1, beta-catenin), sebaceous gland development (adipophilin, Scd1, oil red) and key mediators/markers of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during skin morphogenesis (NCAM, versican, alkaline phosphatase) were all severely altered in Tfam(EKO) mice. Moreover, the number of mast cells, MHC class II+ or CD11b+ immunocytes in the skin mesenchyme was increased, and essentially no subcutis developed. Therefore, in contrast to their epidermal counterparts, pilosebaceous unit stem cells depend on a functional ETC. Most importantly, our findings point towards a frontier in skin biology: the coupling of HF keratinocyte mitochondrial function with the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that drive overall development of the skin and its appendages.Journal of Investigative Dermatology accepted article preview online, 05 November 2014. doi:10.1038/jid.2014.475.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
1
1%
Other
3
4%
Unknown
22
31%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 16. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 18 June 2026.
All research outputs
#2,909,395
of 34,089,221 outputs
Outputs from Journal of Investigative Dermatology
#855
of 11,379 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#28,395
of 307,771 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Journal of Investigative Dermatology
#19
of 106 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 34,089,221 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 91st percentile: it's in the top 10% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 11,379 research outputs from this source. They typically receive more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 9.4. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 92% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 307,771 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 90% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 106 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done well, scoring higher than 81% of its contemporaries.
