Abstract
Melanocytes in hair are located around dermal papilla cells at the tip of the hair follicle. In this study, we examined the melanogenesis of a three‐dimensional (3D) hair dermal papilla model treated with natural extracts and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The 3D model involved dermal papilla‐like tissue (DPLT), an aggregation of a mixture of dermal papilla cells, and melanocytes in microwells. Rice bran extract (RBE), an EMF, and RBE/EMF were applied to different DPLT groups. The LDH assay indicated no cell stress in all experimental groups, and detection of tyrosinase activity demonstrated high activity in the RBE/EMF group. Western blot analysis of the RBE, EMF, and RBE/EMF groups revealed increased MITF, TRP‐1, and tyrosinase expression. In addition, the mRNA expression of ET‐1, laminin, bFGF, β‐catenin, MITF, and tyrosinase was increased in the RBE/EMF group, as demonstrated by RT‐qPCR analysis. HMB45 and Fontana–Masson immunostaining showed that the RBE/EMF group had the highest melanin content. Therefore, RBE and EMF may be used as a material and therapy, respectively, for the treatment of vitiligo and white hair, through activation of melanogenesis in melanocytes. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:595–603, 2018. © 2018 The Authors. Bioelectromagnetics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc..
Highlights
In the human scalp, hair follicles display cyclical activity with each cycle being characterized by three successive phases that have distinct durations [Commo and Bernard, 2000]
We found that the gene expression of dermal papilla cells and melanocytes was increased when dermal papilla-like tissue (DPLT) was treated with Rice bran extract (RBE) and electromagnetic fields (EMFs)
We demonstrated that the melanocytes of the DPLT were activated by RBE, EMF, and RBE/EMF
Summary
Hair follicles display cyclical activity with each cycle being characterized by three successive phases (anagen, catagen, and telogen) that have distinct durations [Commo and Bernard, 2000]. One of the characteristics of the human hair shaft is the presence of melanin in the cortex, which is responsible for hair color. Melanocytes are the only cells capable of synthesizing melanin in mammalian hair and skin; these cells are responsible for hair shaft pigmentation and are located in the bulb of the hair follicle [Commo and Bernard, 2000]. Melanocytes can be found in the basement membrane surrounding the dermal papilla at the apex, and their dendrites extend to pre-cortical keratinocytes, defining the socalled hair melanin unit [Commo and Bernard, 2000]. Melanin is a compound that determines hair color. Melanogenesis is a physiological process resulting in the production of melanin, which plays an important role in the prevention of sun-induced skin injury and contributes to skin and hair color [Cho et al, 2016]. Various natural materials have been found to lead to melanogenesis, such as extracts of Ardisia crenata, scoparone, mangosteen
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