Hominis Placenta facilitates hair re-growth by upregulating cellular proliferation and expression of fibroblast growth factor-7

An Exploratory In Vivo Study on the Effect of Annurca Apple Extract on Hair Growth in Mice

Hair loss is an important problem affecting the quality of life in modern society. Recent studies show that Annurca apple extract (AAE), enriched in procyanidin B2 and nutraceuticals, promotes hair growth and induces keratin production. In this study, we investigated the effects of AAE by orally administering AAE in six-week-old C57BL/6 mice once a day for 21 d. We observed improvement in hair length, thickness, weight, and density. The gene expression of two growth factors related to hair growth, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF-7), were measured using the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The gene expression of both VEGFA and FGF-7 increased significantly in the AAE-treated group. Additionally, treatment with AAE suppressed the gene expression of type 1 5α-reductase. Histological analysis showed that protein levels of cytokeratin 5 and 10 were increased in the skin tissues of the AAE-treated group. These results suggest that AAE might be a potential therapeutic natural product that prevents hair loss by promoting the expression of hair growth-related factors.

Cost-effectively dissecting the genetic architecture of complex wool traits in rabbits by low-coverage sequencing

Background

Rabbit wool traits are important in fiber production and for model organism research on hair growth, but their genetic architecture remains obscure. In this study, we focused on wool characteristics in Angora rabbits, a breed well-known for the quality of its wool. Considering the cost to generate population-scale sequence data and the biased detection of variants using chip data, developing an effective genotyping strategy using low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (LCS) data is necessary to conduct genetic analyses.

Results

Different genotype imputation strategies (BaseVar + STITCH, Bcftools + Beagle4, and GATK + Beagle5), sequencing coverages (0.1X, 0.5X, 1.0X, 1.5X, and 2.0X), and sample sizes (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600) were compared. Our results showed that using BaseVar + STITCH at a sequencing depth of 1.0X with a sample size larger than 300 resulted in the highest genotyping accuracy, with a genotype concordance higher than 98.8% and genotype accuracy higher than 0.97. We performed multivariate genome-wide association studies (GWAS), followed by conditional GWAS and estimation of the confidence intervals of quantitative trait loci (QTL) to investigate the genetic architecture of wool traits. Six QTL were detected, which explained 0.4 to 7.5% of the phenotypic variation. Gene-level mapping identified the fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) gene as associated with fiber growth and diameter, which agrees with previous results from functional data analyses on the FGF gene family in other species, and is relevant for wool rabbit breeding.

Conclusions

We suggest that LCS followed by imputation can be a cost-effective alternative to array and high-depth sequencing for assessing common variants. GWAS combined with LCS can identify new QTL and candidate genes that are associated with quantitative traits. This study provides a cost-effective and powerful method for investigating the genetic architecture of complex traits, which will be useful for genomic breeding applications.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12711-022-00766-y.

A comprehensive review of biochemical factors in herbs and their constituent compounds in experimental studies on alopecia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alopecia is a chronic condition that may cause emotional and psychological distress to patients, which may significantly impact a patient's quality of life. As conventional treatments have only a transient therapeutic effect and result in unwanted side effects, many patients have attempted to find therapeutic herbs or compounds that function as safer and more potent treatments for alopecia. Many such herbs have been used in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for centuries; however, there is a lack of information on the therapeutic mechanisms of herbs used for the treatment of alopecia.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this review was to perform a critical assessment of the methods and results of experimental studies related to alopecia and to provide the potential mechanisms of action of herbs and their constituent compounds used in the identified studies, in particular, in relation to the stages of the cell cycle. We hope to better guide the clinical application and scientific research of herbs for the treatment of alopecia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed experimental studies to determine the methods used and the mechanism of action of the herbs and constituent compounds. Databases, including Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, OASIS, and RISS, were searched for the following keywords: "medicinal plants," "alopecia," "alopecia areata," "androgenetic alopecia," "animal experiment," and "in vitro study." We also assessed the risks of bias, toxicity, and taxonomy to determine the quality of information.

RESULTS

C57BL/6 mice and human dermal papilla cells were the most commonly used models for in vivo and in vitro studies, respectively. Many herbs and their constituent compounds were used to treat alopecia by managing the hair cycle, keratinocyte proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, hormones, and inflammation. These compounds prolong the anagen phase, shorten the transition from the telogen to phase anagen, and inhibit premature catagen phase.

CONCLUSIONS

This review has further elucidated the therapeutic mechanisms of herbs and their constituent compounds that are relevant to alopecia and discussed the effectiveness of using herbal treatments. There is a need to develop evidence regarding the quality control, taxonomy, and toxicology of these compounds. Such improvements will provide a better quality of evidence to ensure the efficacy and safety of herbs and compounds used for the treatment of alopecia.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of cow placenta extract lotion versus minoxidil 2% in the treatment of female pattern androgenetic alopecia

Background

Placenta extract has been shown to improve androgenetic alopecia (AGA) by inducing the anagen phase and increasing hair follicle density and size.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cow placenta extract lotion compared with topical minoxidil 2% as a gold standard treatment for female pattern AGA.

Methods

In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, a total of 90 women with AGA were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either topical minoxidil 2% or cow placenta solutions. At the end of the sixth month, the number of hair follicles was evaluated using a trichoscope and compared with the baseline. Global photographic review was also conducted by a blinded dermatologist.

Results

By the end of the sixth month, there was an increase in total hair count in the specified area in both groups. The mean increase in hair count was 10.9 ± 5.74 and 10.2 ± 6.5 for minoxidil and cow placenta groups, respectively (p = .63). The percentage of patients who were rated as having moderate or marked growth was 44.2% and 32.2% in the cow placenta and minoxidil groups, respectively (p = .90).

Limitations

The study limitations were the limited number of cases, short duration of treatment, and the fact that none of our participants volunteered to undergo a biopsy to evaluate microscopic changes.

Conclusions

Cow placenta hair-tonic lotion can be as effective as minoxidil 2% for female pattern AGA.

Eclipta prostrata promotes the induction of anagen, sustains the anagen phase through regulation of FGF-7 and FGF-5

CONTEXT

Eclipta prostrata L. (Asteraceae) (EP) has been widely used for the treatment of skin disease in Asian traditional medicine.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the potency of EP in promoting hair growth in vivo and in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups (n = 4) as follows: control (topical treatment of normal saline), topical 3% minoxidil to the dorsal skin of mice for 14 days, and low (1 mg/day) and high (10 mg/day) doses of EP orally administered once a day for 14 days. Dorsal hairs of C57BL/6N mice were depilated to synchronize anagen induction. Hair growth activity was evaluated by gross and microscopic observations. Sections of dorsal skin were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. We also treated the various concentrations of EP (5, 10 and 50 μg/mL) for 24 h on the human dermal papilla cells (HDPs) and examined the effects of EP on the expression of FGF-7 and mTOR signalling.

RESULTS

EP enhanced the induction of anagen in the dorsal skin of mice, characterized by the appearance of inner root sheath along with hair shaft, the emergence of hair shaft through the epidermis. EP increased the expression of FGF-7, while decreased the level of FGF-5 in C57/BL6 mice. EP also increased the expression of FGF-7, activated the mTOR signalling in HDPs.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that EP has a potency to enhance the growth of hair follicle, promoting hair growth through regulation of FGF-7 and FGF-5.

An osteopontin-derived peptide inhibits human hair growth at least in part by decreasing fibroblast growth factor-7 production in outer root sheath keratinocytes

BACKGROUND

Given that unwanted hair growth (hirsutism, hypertrichosis) can cause major psychological distress, new pharmacological treatment strategies with safe and effective hair growth inhibitors that do not destroy the hair follicle (HF) and its stem cells need to be developed.

OBJECTIVES

To establish if osteopontin-derived fragments may modulate human hair growth given that human HFs express the multifunctional, immunomodulatory glycoprotein, osteopontin.

METHODS

Our hypothesis was tested ex vivo and in vivo by using a newly generated, toxicologically well-characterized, modified osteopontin-derived peptide (FOL-005), which binds to the HF.

RESULTS

In organ-cultured human HFs and scalp skin, and in human scalp skin xenotransplants onto SCID mice, FOL-005 treatment (60 nmol L^-1 to 3 μmol L^-1 ) significantly promoted premature catagen development without reducing the number of keratin 15-positive HF stem cells or showing signs of drug toxicity. Genome-wide DNA microarray, quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry revealed decreased expression of the hair growth promoter, fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF7) by FOL-005, while cotreatment of HFs with recombinant FGF7 partially abrogated FOL-005-induced catagen promotion.

CONCLUSIONS

With caveats in mind, our study identifies this osteopontin-derived peptide as an effective, novel inhibitory principle for human hair growth ex vivo and in vivo, which deserves systematic clinical testing in hirsutism and hypertrichosis. What's already known about this topic? The treatment of unwanted hair growth (hypertrichosis, hirsutism) lacks pharmacological intervention, with only few and often unsatisfactory treatments available. Osteopontin is prominently expressed in human HFs and has been reported to be elevated during catagen in the murine hair cycle. What does this study add? We tested the effects on hair growth of a novel, osteopontin-derived fragment (FOL-005) ex vivo and in vivo. In human hair follicles, high-dose FOL-005 significantly reduces hair growth both ex vivo and in vivo. What is the translational message? High-dose FOL-005 may provide a new therapeutic opportunity as a treatment for unwanted hair growth.

Exploring the combination and modular characteristics of herbs for alopecia treatment in traditional Chinese medicine: an association rule mining and network analysis study

Background

Although alopecia affects the quality of life, its pathogenesis is unknown, because cellular interactions in the hair follicle are complex. Several authors have suggested using herbal medicine to treat alopecia, and bioinformatics and network pharmacology may constitute a new research strategy in this regard because herbal medicines contain various chemical components. This study used association rule mining (ARM) and network analysis to analyze the combinations of medicinal herbs used to treat alopecia.

Methods

We searched Chinese, Korean, and English databases for literature about alopecia treatment, extracting the names of each herbal prescription and herb. The meridian tropism and classification category of each herb were also investigated. Using ARM, we identified frequently combined two-herb and three-herb sets. Using network analysis, we divided the herbs into several modules according to prescription pattern.

Results

Fifty-six articles and 489 herbal medicines were included—312 internal and 177 external medicines. Among the 312 medicinal herbs used in internal medicine group, the most frequently combined two-herb set was Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (何首烏) and Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Dlels (當歸). The most frequently used three-herb combination was Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Dlels, and Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (川芎). In network analysis, three modules were identified. The herbs of Module 1 were related to the liver and kidney meridians, and those of Module 3 were related to the Stomach meridian.

Conclusions

We identified the frequency, characteristics, and functional modules of herb combinations frequently used in alopecia treatment. We confirmed the value of classical medicinal herb theory. This finding will prompt further bioinformatics and network pharmacology research on alopecia.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2269-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The dual delivery of KGF and bFGF by collagen membrane to promote skin wound healing

The major challenges associated with skin regeneration can include hindered vascularization and an insufficient degree of epithelization. In view of the complexity of these processes and the control signals on which they depend, one possible solution to these limitations could be simulating normal skin development and wound repair via the exogenous delivery of multiple cytokines. Here, we report the use of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF or FGF-7) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF or FGF-2) released chemically modified collagen membranes to facilitate skin wound healing. The results from in vitro studies confirmed that this system resulted in higher cellular proliferation and faster cell migration. After transplanting the biomaterial onto an excisional wound healing model, the dual growth factor group, compared with the single growth factor groups and empty control group, showed more highly developed vascular networks and organized epidermal regeneration in the wounds. As a consequence, this experimental group showed mature epidermal coverage. Overall, this novel approach of releasing growth factors from a collagen membrane opens new avenues for fulfilling unmet clinical needs for wound care.