Hair growth promoting potential of phospholipids purified from porcine lung tissues

The Effect of Liposomes of Various Compositions on the Skin and Its Derivatives After II-IIIA Degree Thermal Burns

This study examines the pathological processes and conditions arising from an experimental modeling of II-IIIA degree thermal burns in laboratory animals. These conditions are characterized by skin structure defects, diminished skin functions, especially the barrier function, and damage to skin derivatives like hair follicles and sebaceous glands. We compared the effect of liposomes composed of soybean lecithin of 90% phosphatidylcholine content and liposomes composed of lecithin of 26% phosphatidylcholine content on the epidermis, dermis and its capillaries, hair follicles, and the sebaceous glands of the laboratory animals 24 h after experimental modeling of II-IIIA degree thermal skin burns. We discuss the dependency of liposome effects on the skin and its derivatives on the fatty acid composition of the lecithin used, with particular focus on phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acids, as well as oleic and linoleic acids.

Analysis of 72,469 UK Biobank exomes links rare variants to male-pattern hair loss

Male-pattern hair loss (MPHL) is common and highly heritable. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have generated insights into the contribution of common variants to MPHL etiology, the relevance of rare variants remains unclear. To determine the contribution of rare variants to MPHL etiology, we perform gene-based and single-variant analyses in exome-sequencing data from 72,469 male UK Biobank participants. While our population-level risk prediction suggests that rare variants make only a minor contribution to general MPHL risk, our rare variant collapsing tests identified a total of five significant gene associations. These findings provide additional evidence for previously implicated genes (EDA2R, WNT10A) and highlight novel risk genes at and beyond GWAS loci (HEPH, CEPT1, EIF3F). Furthermore, MPHL-associated genes are enriched for genes considered causal for monogenic trichoses. Together, our findings broaden the MPHL-associated allelic spectrum and provide insights into MPHL pathobiology and a shared basis with monogenic hair loss disorders.

Schizochytrium sp. Extracted Lipids Prevent Alopecia by Enhancing Antioxidation and Inhibiting Ferroptosis of Dermal Papilla Cells

Alopecia has gradually become a problem that puzzles an increasing number of people. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) play an important role in hair follicle (HF) growth; thus, exploring the effective chemicals or natural extracts that can remediate the growth of DPCs is vital. Our results showed that Schizochytrium sp.-extracted lipids (SEL) significantly promoted proliferation (up to 1.13 times) and survival ratio (up to 2.45 times) under oxidative stress. The treatment with SEL can protect DPCs against oxidative stress damage, reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level by 90.7%. The relative gene transcription and translation were thoroughly analyzed using RNA-Seq, RT-qPCR, and Western blot to explore the mechanism. Results showed that SEL significantly inhibited the ferroptosis pathway and promoted the expression of antioxidant genes (up to 1.55-3.52 times). The in vivo application of SEL improved hair growth, with the length of new hair increasing by 16.7% and the length of new HF increasing by 92.6%, and the period of telogen shortening increased by 40.0%. This study proposes a novel therapeutic option for alopecia, with the effect and regulation mechanism of SEL on DPC systematically clarified.

Review of Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla cells as in vitro screening model for hair growth

Hair disorders such as hair loss (alopecia) and androgen dependent, excessive hair growth (hirsutism, hypertrichosis) may impact the social and psychological well-being of an individual. Recent advances in understanding the biology of hair have accelerated the research and development of novel therapeutic and cosmetic hair growth agents. Preclinical models aid in dermocosmetic efficacy testing and claim substantiation of hair growth modulators. The in vitro models to investigate hair growth utilize the hair follicle Dermal Papilla cells (DPCs), specialized mesenchymal cells located at the base of hair follicle that play essential roles in hair follicular morphogenesis and postnatal hair growth cycles. In this review, we have compiled and discussed the extensively reported literature citing DPCs as in vitro model to study hair growth promoting and inhibitory effects. A variety of agents such as herbal and natural extracts, growth factors and cytokines, platelet-rich plasma, placental extract, stem cells and conditioned medium, peptides, hormones, lipid-nanocarrier, light, electrical and electromagnetic field stimulation, androgens and their analogs, stress-serum and chemotherapeutic agents etc. have been examined for their hair growth modulating effects in DPCs. Effects on DPCs' activity were determined from untreated (basal) or stress induced levels. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and secretion of growth factors were included as primary end-point markers. Effects on a wide range of biomolecules and mechanistic pathways that play key role in the biology of hair growth were also investigated. This consolidated and comprehensive review summarizes the up-to-date information and understanding regarding DPCs based screening models for hair growth and may be helpful for researchers to select the appropriate assay system and biomarkers. This review highlights the pivotal role of DPCs in the forefront of hair research as screening platforms by providing insights into mechanistic action at cellular level, which may further direct the development of novel hair growth modulators.