Arginine Metabolic Disruption Impairs Hair Regeneration via ROS-Mediated Inactivation of mTOR Signaling in Androgenetic Alopecia

    August 2025 in “ PubMed ”
    Shixin Duan, Guo Li, Yi Chu, M. Zhang, Yang Li, Yujin Zhang, Fangfen Liu, Jiayun Li, Mengting Chen, Ben Wang, Zhixiang Zhao, Wei Shi, Yiya Zhang, Guangtong Deng, Xinwei Kuang, Hongfu Xie, Yufan Cheng, Zhili Deng, Ji Li, Yan Tang
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    TLDR Arginine deficiency hinders hair growth in androgenetic alopecia, but restoring it can promote hair regeneration.
    This study identifies arginine deficiency as a key factor in androgenetic alopecia (AGA), impairing hair regeneration through ROS-mediated inactivation of mTOR signaling. Researchers found decreased arginine levels in AGA patients, leading to increased ROS accumulation and hair follicle dysfunction. Restoring arginine levels, either through supplementation or inhibiting its conversion to ornithine, promoted hair growth in mouse models and human hair follicles. A microneedle-based delivery system for targeted arginine replenishment showed strong therapeutic potential, suggesting that correcting localized metabolic imbalances could be an effective treatment strategy for AGA. The study involved 48 AGA patients and 52 healthy controls, highlighting the critical role of arginine in maintaining hair follicle health and regeneration.
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