Laminin-511 and integrin beta-1 in hair follicle development and basal cell carcinoma formation

With the use of a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) model system and mouse mutants the authors re-evaluate the role of laminin-511 in epithelial invagination in the skin. Blocking laminin 511 and 332 in BCCs maintains primary cilia and Shh signalling, but prevents invagination. Similarly, in laminin-511 and dermal beta-1 integrin mutants, dermal papilla development and primary cilia formation are normal. Dermal beta-1 integrin mutants have normal hair follicle development. They conclude that laminin-511 has a primary role of promoting hair follicle epithelial downgrowth without affecting dermal primary cilia and Shh target gene induction.