Abstract
Recently, a variety of safe and effective non-pharmacological methods have been introduced as new treatments of alopecia. Micro-current electrical stimulation (MCS) is one of them. It is generally known to facilitate cell proliferation and differentiation and promote cell migration and ATP synthesis. This study aimed to investigate the hair growth-promoting effect of MCS on human hair follicle-derived papilla cells (HFDPC) and a telogenic mice model. We examined changes in cell proliferation, migration, and cell cycle progression with MCS-applied HFDPC. The changes of expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins, molecules related to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/Fox01 pathway and Wnt/β-catenin pathway were also examined by immunoblotting. Subsequently, we evaluated the various growth factors in developing hair follicles by RT-PCR in MCS-applied (MCS) mice model. From the results, the MCS-applied groups with specific levels showed effects on HFDPC proliferation and migration and promoted cell cycle progression and the expression of cell cycle-related proteins. Moreover, these levels significantly activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and PI3K/AKT/mTOR/Fox01 pathway. Various growth factors in developing hair follicles, including Wnts, FGFs, IGF-1, and VEGF-B except for VEGF-A, significantly increased in MCS-applied mice. Our results may confirm that MCS has hair growth-promoting effect on HFDPC as well as telogenic mice model, suggesting a potential treatment strategy for alopecia.
Highlights
Alopecia is a widespread disease for both male and female throughout the world
The wound area rate of 25 μA and 50 μA Micro-current electrical stimulation (MCS) groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. These results represented that the 25 μA and 50 μA groups showed more effects on hair follicle-derived papilla cells (HFDPC) proliferation and migration compared with the control group or with the group treated with other MCS levels
Our study showed that MCS activates the expression of Cyclin D1 as seen Figure 2B. These results suggest that activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR/Fox01 pathway and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by MCS may enhance the proliferation and migration of HFDPC, which are involved in hair growth. [57,58]
Summary
Alopecia (hair loss) is a widespread disease for both male and female throughout the world. Pharmacological treatments have been reported various side effects such as sexual dysfunction, hypertension, and fetal defects [5,6,7] In this respect, it is necessary to develop the alternative methods with non-pharmacological approaches, which are effective on the prevention of hair loss and promotion of hair growth safely. It is necessary to develop the alternative methods with non-pharmacological approaches, which are effective on the prevention of hair loss and promotion of hair growth safely Several methods such as laser and electrical simulation have been suggested as the non-pharmacological treatments [8,9,10,11]. Electrical stimulation is known to facilitate cell proliferation and differentiation, promote cell migration and ATP synthesis through the influx of calcium ions into cells, and activate protein synthesis mainly through PI3K- and Ca2+-related mechanisms. This is because there is a lack of parameter study referring to cell behavior and mechanism of evaluation of electrical stimulation on hair growth
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