Collagenolytic activities with differentiation of the cultured cells from the murine hair apparatus.

Immature hair apparatus cells were cultured for 3 days to allow to proliferate and differentiate into several subpopulations including hair-shaft type cells on day 6. Zymographic and immunocytochemical studies of the culture media were performed to examine whether the differentiated and/or immature cells from the murine hair apparatus can secrete type IV collagenases. Zymography showed the presence of 72 and 92 kDa type IV collagenases in media, in which hair apparatus cells had been cultured for 3 and 6 days. Most of the cells cultured for 3 and 6 days showed positive reactions with the mouse anti-gelatinase monoclonal antibody in the perinuclear cytoplasm. These data suggest that the differentiated cells as well as immature cells in the hair apparatus may retain the ability to produce and secrete 72 and 92 kDa collagenases.