Abstract
Human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs) are a specialized population of cells located in the hair follicles and regulate hair growth and development, particularly by releasing numerous growth factors in response to various physiological conditions. In the present study, we aimed to test whether nonanal, a scent compound from plants, stimulated growth factors in DPCs and to delineate the underlying mechanisms involved. We found that nonanal promoted DPC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, it also increased the intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and the expression of various growth factor genes such as vascular endothelial growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor 1. Furthermore, nonanal treatment stimulated DPC migration. Notably, the benefits of nonanal use were abrogated by cAMP inhibition. Our results reveal the potential of nonanal in preventing hair loss and suggest that its effects are cAMP-mediated in DPCs.
Highlights
Hair is an epidermal outgrowth composed of keratins originating from hair follicles deep down in the dermis
Our results reveal the potential of nonanal in preventing hair loss and suggest that its effects are cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated in dermal papilla cells (DPCs)
CAMP, which can be activated by various agents targeting upstream G protein coupled receptor (GPCR; targeted by approximately 40% of all drugs), has been recognized as an important regulator of various growth factors, the exact mechanism of growth factor regulation by cAMP has not been elucidated with consensus [12,13,14,15]
Summary
Hair is an epidermal outgrowth composed of keratins originating from hair follicles deep down in the dermis. These hair follicles have been shown to produce increased amounts of keratin in response to growth factors; growth factors are considered as key molecules that participate in hair growth initiation and suppression [1,2,3]. Dermal papilla, located at the base of the hair follicle, has its own blood supply and plays a crucial role in regulating numerous growth factors in response to various physiological conditions [4,5]. The production of growth factors is tightly regulated by several intracellular signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) that transmit a variety of extracellular stimuli. CAMP, which can be activated by various agents targeting upstream G protein coupled receptor (GPCR; targeted by approximately 40% of all drugs), has been recognized as an important regulator of various growth factors, the exact mechanism of growth factor regulation by cAMP has not been elucidated with consensus [12,13,14,15]
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