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

September 2025 in “ Frontiers in Medicine ”

Jang-Hyuk Yun

angiopoietin-1 hair follicle dermal papilla cells dihydrotestosterone androgenetic alopecia integrin α5β1 PI3K/AKT pathway MAPK/ERK1/2 pathway perifollicular vascularization Ang1 HFDPCs DHT

TLDR Angiopoietin-1 helps hair cells survive and grow, making it a potential treatment for hair loss.

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, supporting follicular health. These results highlight Ang1 as a promising dual-action therapeutic candidate for treating androgenetic alopecia.

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