Novel Application of Layered Expression Scanning for Proteomic Profiling of Plucked Hair Follicles

BACKGROUND: There is a need for a technology that can quantitatively assay multiple proteins from a single hair follicle while preserving the morphology of the follicle. For proteomic profiling, the technology should be less labor intensive, with a higher throughput, more quantitative and more reproducible than immunohistochemistry. OBJECTIVE: To test the ability of a novel method, layered expression scanning of hair (LES-hair) to detect the levels and localization of proteins in plucked hair follicles. METHODS: LES-hair was used to assay proteins in the plucked hair follicle. RESULTS: LES-hair detected differential expression of proteins within discrete regions of the plucked hair follicle. These proteins included cleaved caspase 3, Ki-67 and the phosphorylated forms of c-Kit, epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor. CONCLUSION: LES-hair provides a research tool for studying the basic biology of plucked hair follicles and has potential clinical applications such as monitoring treatment of alopecia or using plucked hair follicles as a surrogate tissue to monitor pharmacodynamic effects of targeted cancer therapies.