CRH receptor antagonists from Pulsatilla chinensis prevent CRH-induced premature catagen transition in human hair follicles

Ganoderma lucidum extract attenuates corticotropin-releasing hormone-induced cellular senescence in human hair follicle cells

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a key mediator in stress-induced hair growth inhibition. Here, we investigated the impact of stress-induced senescence and evaluated the potential of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) extract in mitigating CRH-induced senescence in human hair follicle cells (hHFCs). We show that CRH treatment increased the senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-GAL) activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in hHFCs and suppressed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and anagen-inducing genes. However, GL extract restored ALP activity and decreased the expression levels of anagen-related genes in CRH-treated hHFCs. It decreased SA-β-GAL activity, reduced ROS production, and prevented the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling pathways in CRH-related stress response. Moreover, GL reversed the CRH-induced inhibition of two-cell assemblage (TCA) elongation and Ki67 expression. GL extract attenuates stress-induced hair follicular senescence by delaying catagen entry and scavenging ROS. Our findings suggest that GL extract could be used for treating stress-induced hair loss.

Role of neurogenic inflammation in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata

Alopecia areata refers to an autoimmune illness indicated by persistent inflammation. The key requirement for alopecia areata occurrence is the disruption of immune-privileged regions within the hair follicles. Recent research has indicated that neuropeptides play a role in the damage to hair follicles by triggering neurogenic inflammation, stimulating mast cells ambient the follicles, and promoting apoptotic processes in keratinocytes. However, the exact pathogenesis of alopecia areata requires further investigation. Recently, there has been an increasing focus on understanding the mechanisms of immune diseases resulting from the interplay between the nervous and the immune system. Neurogenic inflammation due to neuroimmune disorders of the skin system may disrupt the inflammatory microenvironment of the hair follicle, which plays a crucial part in the progression of alopecia areata.

Psychological stress induces hair regenerative disorders through corticotropin-releasing hormone-mediated autophagy inhibition

Psychosocial stress is increasing, causing a growing number of people to suffer from hair loss. Stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is associated with hair loss, but the mechanism by which hair follicles respond to stress and CRH remain poorly understood. The aim of the study is to elucidate the association between CRH and stress-related hair regenerative disorders, and reveal the potential pathological mechanisms. A chronic unpredictable stress mouse model and a chronic social defeat stress mouse model were used to examine the role of CRH and stress-related hair regrowth. Chronic unpredictable stress and chronic social defeat stress increased the expression of CRH and CRH receptors (CRHRs), and contributed to the onset of hair-cycle abnormalities. Psychoemotional stress and stress-related CRH blocked hair follicle regrowth, which could be restored by astressin, a CRHR antagonist. Long-term exposure to either chronic unpredictable stress or CRH induced a decrease in autophagy, which could be partially rescued by astressin. Activating CRHR, by stress or CRH administration, decreased autophagy via the mTOR-ULK1 signaling pathway to mediate hair regenerative disorders, which could be partially reversed through enhancing autophagy by administration of brefeldin A. These findings indicate that CRH-mediated autophagy inhibition play an important role in stress-induced hair regenerative disorders. CRH regulates the local hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of hair follicles, but also plays an independent pathogenic role in stress-related hair regenerative disorders through CRH-mediated autophagy inhibition. This work contributes to the present understanding of hair loss and suggests that enhancing autophagy may have a therapeutic effect on stress-induced hair loss.

Exploring clues pointing toward the existence of a brain-gut microbiota-hair follicle axis

Proposing the concept of a brain-gut-skin axis has led some researchers to recognize the relationship among brain activity, gut microbiota, and the skin. Hair follicles are skin accessory organs, a previously unnoticed target tissue for classical neurohormones, neurotrophins, and neuropeptides. Some studies have shown a relationship between the central nervous system and hair follicles that an imbalance in the gut bacteria can affect hair follicle density. This review summarizes existing evidence from literature and explores clues supporting a connection linking the brain, gut microbiota, and hair follicles. It amalgamates previously proposed partial concepts into a new, unified concept-the "brain-gut microbiota-hair follicle" axis, -which suggests that modulation of the microbiome via probiotics can have positive effects on hair follicles. This review also explores how preclinical research on hair follicles can propel novel and clinically untapped applications.

Evaluating Potentials of Species Rich Taxonomic Groups in Cosmetics and Dermatology: Clustering and Dispersion of Skin Efficacy of Asteraceae and Ranunculales Plants on the Species Phylogenetic Tree

BACKGROUND

The medicinal properties of plants can be predicted by virtue of phylogenetic methods, which nevertheless have not been utilized to explore the regularity of skin-related bioactivities of ethnomedicinal plants. We aim to investigate the distribution of skin efficacy of Asteraceae and Ranunculales plants on the species-level Tree of Life.

METHODS

The clinical efficacy data of 551 ethnomedicinal species belonging to Ranunculales, as well as 579 ethnomedicinal species of Asteraceae, were systematically collected and collated; these therapeutic data fell into 15 categories, including skin disease/cosmeceutical. The large phylogenetic tree of all China angiosperm species was used to detect the phylogenetic signals of ethnomedicinal plants by calculating the D statistic, phylogenetic diversity (PD), net relatedness index (NRI), and nearest taxon index (NTI). Of all Chinese ethnomedicinal plants of Ranunculales and Asteraceae, 339 (61.5% of all ethnomedicinal species) and 382 (66.0% of all) are used for skin problems. In Ranunculales, a clustered structure was suggested by the NRI value for skin uses. In Asteraceae, the skin utility was not clustered; Artemisia, Aster, Cremanthodium, Ligularia, and Saussurea are the most used Asteraceae genera for skin issues.

RESULTS

The clustering structure was identified in Artemisia, and the skin efficacy in other genera was of overdispersion (NRI < 0). NTI values and D statistics largely agree with NRI. When compared with PD values of different therapeutic categories, the PD value of the skin category was relatively high in Cremanthodium, Ranunculales, Asteraceae, and Artemisia, suggesting the enormous efficacy space in the new taxa of these taxonomic groups.

CONCLUSION

By resolving the distribution of therapeutic effects of Ranunculales/Asteraceae taxa, the importance of phylogenetic methods in mining botanical resources with skin utilities is validated.

Whole blood transcriptome profiling identifies candidate genes associated with alopecia in male giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Background

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a threatened species endemic to China. Alopecia, characterized by thinning and broken hair, mostly occurs in breeding males. Alopecia significantly affects the health and public image of the giant panda and the cause of alopecia is unclear.

Results

Here, we researched gene expression profiles of four alopecia giant pandas and seven healthy giant pandas. All pandas were approximately ten years old and their blood samples collected during the breeding season. A total of 458 up-regulated DEGs and 211 down-regulated DEGs were identified. KEGG pathway enrichment identified that upregulated genes were enriched in the Notch signaling pathway and downregulated genes were enriched in ribosome, oxidative phosphorylation, and thermogenesis pathways. We obtained 28 hair growth-related DEGs, and identified three hub genes NOTCH1, SMAD3, and TGFB1 in PPI analysis. Five hair growth-related signaling pathways were identified with abnormal expression, these were Notch, Wnt, TGF-β, Mapk, and PI3K-Akt. The overexpression of NOTCH1 delays inner root sheath differentiation and results in hair shaft abnormalities. The delayed hair regression was associated with a significant decrease in the expression levels of TGFB1.

Conclusions

Our data confirmed the abnormal expression of several hair-related genes and pathways and identified alopecia candidate genes in the giant panda. Results of this study provide theoretical basis for the establishment of prevention and treatment strategies for giant pandas with alopecia.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08501-z.

Identification of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bge.) Regel and look-alike species by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry using multivariate statistical analysis

Pulsatillae Radix, the root of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bge.) Regel, is recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and has been widely used for its pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, and cardiovascular benefits. However, there are several look-alike species that can be marketed as Pulsatillae Radix. To distinguish Pulsatilla chinensis (Bge.) Regel from its look-alikes, viz. Pulsatilla cernua (Thunb.) Bercht et Opiz., Pulsatilla dahurica (Fisch.) Spreng., Anemone tomeutosa (Maxim.) Pei., and Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC, we used ultra-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with principal component analysis to compare their chemical compositions. Four ions, a (RT 8.98 min, m/z 1381.6671), b (RT 10.64 min, m/z 1219.6143), c (RT 11.52 min, m/z 1217.5978), and d (RT 13.6 min, m/z 749.4463) from Pulsatillae chinensis (Bge.) Regel were identified as potential chemical markers to distinguish it from look-alike species using an unsupervised statistical model combined with orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis. The results of this study provide an effective method for identifying and distinguishing Pulsatilla chinensis (Bge.) Regel from similar plants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Identification of the Key Genes Associated with the Yak Hair Follicle Cycle

The development of hair follicles in yak shows significant seasonal cycles. In our previous research, transcriptome data including mRNAs and lncRNAs in five stages during the yak hair follicles (HFs) cycle were detected, but their regulation network and the hub genes in different periods are yet to be explored. This study aimed to screen and identify the hub genes during yak HFs cycle by constructing a mRNA-lncRNA co-expression network. A total of 5000 differently expressed mRNA (DEMs) and 729 differently expressed long noncoding RNA (DELs) were used to construct the co-expression network, based on weighted genes co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Four temporally specific modules were considered to be significantly associated with the HFs cycle of yak. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the modules are enriched into Wnt, EMC-receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt, focal adhesion pathways, and so on. The hub genes, such as FER, ELMO1, PCOLCE, and HOXC13, were screened in different modules. Five hub genes (WNT5A, HOXC13, DLX3, FOXN1, and OVOL1) and part of key lncRNAs were identified for specific expression in skin tissue. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting results showed that the expression location and abundance of DLX3 and OVOL1 are changed following the process of the HFs cycle, which further demonstrated that these two hub genes may play important roles in HFs development.