LB1604 The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids on hair growth

Abstract

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are longchain fatty acids contain two or more double bonds along their carbon backbones. Arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid each and exert their effects through changes in membrane phospholipids or the production of signaling molecules such as eicosanoids. AA and EPA, its eicosanoid metabolites are involved in the regulation of many cellular processes, such as cell survival, angiogenesis, chemotaxis, mitogenesis, apoptosis and migration. To validate the effects of AA and EPA on hair growth, we treated AA to human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) and performed ex vivo hair follicle organ culture. We also tested whether AA and EPA had effects on anagen induction or anagen prolongation using C57BL/6 mice. As a result, AA not only enhanced the viability of hDPCs but also promoted the expression of several growth factors that are responsible for hair growth, including FGF-7, FGF-10 and HGF in a quantitative real time-PCR. In Western blot analysis, we observed that in hDPCs, AA leads to phosphorylation of the transcription factors ERK, CREB, AKT and increased the expression of Bcl-2. Additionally, AA promoted hair shaft elongation with increased proliferation of matrix keratinocytes in hair follicle organ culture. Furthermore, AA and EPA treatment accelerated the anagen hair induction when topically applied with AA and EPA of 2% and AA plus EPA groups mixed with ratio of 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1, respectively. Also, AA 2% and AA plus EPA 3:1 group markedly prolonged the anagen hair growth in an in vivo model of anagen prolongation induced by depilation. Our results show that PUFAs promote hair growth and could be a successful treatment for hair loss.