A combination of pyridine-2, 4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester and resveratrol stabilizes hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha and improves hair density in female volunteers

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was first to demonstrate that a combination of pyridine-2, 4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester and resveratrol could synergize in vitro on biological pathways associated with hair growth and then to demonstrate the benefit on hair density in a clinical study.

METHODS

The effects of pyridine-2, 4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester and resveratrol directly on the hypoxic inducible factor-1α protein (HIF-1α) and related genes expression were demonstrated on keratinocytes in culture in vitro using western-blot analysis and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The effect of resveratrol against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide treatment was studied in hair follicle and hair matrix cells in vitro using the sensitive probe Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). Finally, a randomized clinical study on hair density was conducted on 79 Caucasian female subjects to assess the effect of this combination of actives.

RESULTS

Pyridine-2, 4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester and resveratrol stabilized HIF-1a protein and increased the expression of HIF-1α target genes. Resveratrol significantly reduced the oxygen peroxide-induced oxidative stress generated in hair follicle and hair matrix cells. The clinical study showed that a topical treatment with the combination significantly increased the hair density on women from 1.5 months.

CONCLUSION

In addition to the antioxidant properties of resveratrol, the association of pyridine-2, 4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester and resveratrol revealed a synergistic effect on the HIF-1α pathway. The results of the clinical study confirmed the importance of such a combination to increase the hair density.

Skin aging: the dermal perspective

The world population of adults aged 60 years or more is increasing globally, and this development can impact skin disease morbidity and mortality, as well as being reflected in the health care system organization. There is substantial evidence that the burden from a remarkable number of skin nonmalignant and malignant conditions is greater in the elderly. Dermatologic research and clinical education in dermatology should focus on both challenges and opportunities created by aging. Skin aging due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors can alter significantly epidermal and dermal structure and functions. Dermal aging can be linked to a great number of complications in routine dermatologic conditions, with slow healing as an example of a severe complication in the elderly. This may be attributed to aged dermal fibroblasts modifying the tissue microenvironment via a shift in their soluble factors and extracellular matrix repertoire. This senescence-associated secretory phenotype can explain the particular proclivity of aged skin to develop malignancies.