Angiopoietin-1 Induces Survival and Proliferation of Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells Through Integrin α5β1 Signaling

This study explores the effects of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) on human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) under stress from dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a key factor in androgenetic alopecia. Ang1 was found to significantly reduce apoptosis and restore proliferation in HFDPCs by activating the PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathways through integrin α5β1, independent of Tie-1 and Tie-2 receptors. The study suggests that Ang1 not only directly protects DPCs but may also enhance perifollicular vascularization, offering a dual-action therapeutic potential for treating androgenetic alopecia.