Role of Arachidonic Acid in Promoting Hair Growth

The study from 2016 explored the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) on hair growth using both in vivo and in vitro models. It was found that AA increased the viability of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) and promoted the expression of hair growth factors such as FGF-7 and FGF-10. AA also stimulated the phosphorylation of transcription factors and increased Bcl-2 expression, which are associated with cell survival and growth. Furthermore, AA significantly enhanced hair shaft elongation and increased the proliferation of matrix keratinocytes in hair follicle cultures. In live C57BL/6 mice, AA induced and prolonged the anagen phase of the hair cycle. The study concluded that AA contributes to hair growth by boosting growth factor expression in hDPCs and by enhancing follicle proliferation and survival.