On December 5, 2025, Professor Li Ji, Vice Director of Xiangya Hospital at Central South University, delivered an academic lecture titled "Research on Hair Follicle–Sebaceous Gland Homeostasis and Related Disorders" at Building A7, Shahe Garden, Lihu Campus, Shenzhen University. She was invited by Professor Xinchun Chen from the School of Basic Medical Sciences, as the guest speaker for the 160th session of the Shenzhen Medical Forum.

Professor Li Ji began her lecture by discussing disorders related to the pilosebaceous unit, including alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, and rosacea. She proposed that an imbalance in pilosebaceous unit homeostasis is a key factor in the pathogenesis of these conditions. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying this homeostasis remain incompletely understood, and effective targeted treatments are still lacking.

Professor Li Ji outlined her team’s recent research focus in two main areas. First, she introduced studies on the regulatory mechanisms of hair follicle regeneration disorders. She emphasized that hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and dermal papilla (DP) cells are the two most critical cell populations involved in hair follicle cycling. Using mouse models, her team investigated the roles of DNMT1 and Sirt7 in regulating HFSC activity. Their findings showed that DNMT1 is involved in epidermal progenitor cell regulation and hair follicle homeostasis, while Sirt7—a gene associated with longevity—promotes HFSC activation and facilitates the transition from telogen to anagen, supporting normal hair cycle progression.

In related research on DP cells, the team identified LeprB as a specific marker expressed across all stages of the hair follicle cycle, suggesting it may serve as a reliable target for DP cell-based interventions. Furthermore, activation of the SHH signaling pathway in DP cells was shown to trigger early HFSC activation and enhance hair regeneration in mice. Among the SHH/Gli1 target genes, Scube3 was the most significantly upregulated, indicating its key role in DP cell–mediated hair follicle regeneration.

The second focus of Professor Li Ji’s research addresses inflammatory diseases of the pilosebaceous unit, particularly rosacea, a prevalent chronic inflammatory skin condition in China. Despite its high incidence, diagnostic tools and long-term treatment options remain limited. Her team is the first in China to conduct genetic studies on rosacea using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES), revealing the genetic basis of familial rosacea and its links to neurogenic inflammation. Their research demonstrated that rosacea is closely associated with neurovascular dysfunction. Sensory nerves contribute to disease progression by secreting CGRP, which regulates the proliferation and activation of γδ T cells.

They also identified interactions between the S1/PVN nuclei in the central nervous system and the skin, supporting the hypothesis that central nervous system dysfunction plays a role in rosacea onset and progression. In addition, the team found that immune dysregulation is a major factor in rosacea pathogenesis. Specifically, the epidermal sodium channel Nav1.8 regulates inflammatory cytokine production in keratinocytes and interacts with SOD2 to control ROS accumulation. These findings suggest that targeting Nav1.8 could offer a new therapeutic strategy for inflammatory skin diseases.

Professor Li Ji’s presentation was rich in content and offered innovative perspectives. It deepened the audience’s understanding of pilosebaceous unit homeostasis and related disorders, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges in precision diagnosis and targeted therapy. Following the lecture, attendees engaged in a lively discussion, contributing to a vibrant academic atmosphere.

Brief introduction to the speaker

Li Ji is a First-Class Chief Physician, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor. She currently serves as Vice President of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, and Director of the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging Biology. She is a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and a Young Yangtze River Scholar under the Ministry of Education. Professor Li Ji holds several leadership roles in national professional associations, including Chairperson of the Rosacea Group of the Chinese Dermatologist Association, Vice Chairperson of the Hair Disorders Group of the Chinese Society of Dermatology and Venereology, and Vice Chairperson of the Dermatology Committee of the China Medicine Education Association. Her recent clinical and research work has focused on cosmetic dermatology, including rosacea, hair loss disorders, and skin aging. She has led one key national research project under the Ministry of Science and Technology, six projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and several other provincial and ministerial-level initiatives. She has published more than 100 SCI-indexed papers as first or corresponding author in high-impact journals such as BMJ, Science Advances, Developmental Cell, EMBO Journal, JAAD, JAMA Dermatology, and the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Her achievements have been recognized with multiple honors, including the First Prize of the Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award (second-ranked) in 2021, the First Prize of the Huaxia Medical Science and Technology Award (second-ranked), and the "Wuzhou Women in Science Award."