Morroniside regulates hair growth and cycle transition via activation of the Wnt/\u03b2-catenin signaling pathway

Lijuan Zhou,Lijuan Yu,Han Wang,Jing Jing,Xianjie Wu,Zhongfa Lu

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32138-2

Lijuan Zhou, Lijuan Yu + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32138-2

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Abstract

Hair loss is characterized by a shortened hair anagen phase and hair follicles (HF) miniaturization. Morroniside is the most abundant iridoid glycoside extracted from Cornus officinalis and has various bioactivities in different cell functions and tissue regeneration. In this study, we investigated the effects and the underlying mechanism of morroniside on hair growth and regulation of HF cycle transition. Morroniside treatment significantly enhanced outer root sheath cell (ORSC) proliferation and migration in vitro. Additionally, morroniside upregulated Wnt10b, β-catenin and lef1. The enhanced ORSC proliferation and migration due to morroniside treatment were partly rescued by a Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor, DKK1. Furthermore, in a hair-induced mouse model, morroniside injection accelerated the onset of anagen and delayed HF catagen, as shown by histological examination. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway expression was upregulated in the HFs. These findings suggest that morroniside regulates HF growth and development partly through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and may be a potential treatment for hair loss.

Highlights

IntroductionHair follicles (HFs) have a unique capacity to undergo growth (anagen), regression (catagen) and rest (telogen) before regenerating themselves and dynamically restarting the cycle[1]
Hair follicles (HFs) have a unique capacity to undergo growth, regression and rest before regenerating themselves and dynamically restarting the cycle[1]
At a concentration of 10 μM, morroniside showed a more powerful effect on outer root sheath cell (ORSC) proliferation compared with the control group or with the group treated with 1 μM morroniside

Summary

Introduction

Hair follicles (HFs) have a unique capacity to undergo growth (anagen), regression (catagen) and rest (telogen) before regenerating themselves and dynamically restarting the cycle[1]. After activation in adult tissues, β-catenin, the key transducer of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, accumulates in the cytoplasm and translocates to the nucleus, where it dimerizes with members of the lymphoid enhancer factor/T-cell factor (LEF/TCF) family of transcription factors[16]. We demonstrated that these in vitro and in vivo effects were mediated by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway These data highlight a novel role for morroniside in the regulation of HF growth and development and provide a potential strategy for the treatment of hair loss

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