How hair follicle development is controlled by different hedgehog transcription factors

How ciliary hedgehog (Hh) signalling contributes to mammalian skin formation remains poorly defined. 

This study identifies dual compartment-specific roles for Hh transcription factors Gli2 and Gli3 in the development and maintenance of the skin epithelium.

The authors show that keratinocyte-specific depletion of Gli2 impairs hair follicle maturation, while depletion of Gli2 enhances sebaceous gland development and maintenance.

Meanwhile, Gli3 ablation showed no detectable phenotypes, hair follicle cell fate is blocked in Gli2/Gli3 double knockout (dKO) mice, suggesting functional compensation. 

Thus, cilia mediate epidermal Gli2 but not Gli3 signalling in the skin epithelium.

https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44318-025-00519-9

https://sciencemission.com/Gli2-and-Gli3-in-establishing-cell-fate