HOMEOBOX GENES AND SKIN DEVELOPMENT - A REVIEW

Homeobox (HOX) genes are a gene family that encode information critica l for the normal embryologic development of many different organisms, including vertebrates. HOX genes encode transcriptional regulatory fac tors that bind to multiple different genes and thereby determine the d evelopmental fate of a cell. The role of HOX genes in the development of skin is undetermined but, based on information from other organisms and recent experimental data from skin models, it is likely that this class of genes is important for the normal development of skin adnexa e, pigmentary system, and stratified epidermis during embryogenesis. T he purpose of this review is to briefly summarize what is known about HOX genes and to familiarize the reader with recent insights into how HOX genes may function in skin development.