CRF Receptor Antagonist Astressin-B Reverses and Prevents Alopecia in CRF Over-Expressing Mice

February 2011 in “ PloS one ”

Lixin Wang, Mulugeta Million, Jean Rivier, Catherine Rivier, Noah Craft, Mary P. Stenzel-Poore, Yvette Taché

CRF receptor antagonist Astressin-B alopecia hair regrowth pigmentation CRF signaling stress-induced hair loss

TLDR Astressin-B can reverse and prevent hair loss in stressed mice.

The study demonstrated that the CRF receptor antagonist Astressin-B effectively reversed and prevented alopecia in CRF over-expressing mice by inducing significant hair regrowth and pigmentation, with effects lasting up to 4 months. This suggested that CRF signaling played a significant role in stress-induced hair loss, and blocking this pathway could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating alopecia. The findings highlighted the potential of CRF receptor antagonists as a promising therapy for stress-related hair loss.

View this study on journals.plos.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

12 / 12 results

research A Neuroendocrinological Perspective on Human Hair Follicle Pigmentation

56 citations, November 2010 in “Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research”

Brain hormones significantly affect hair color and could potentially be used to prevent or reverse grey hair.

research Diffuse Hair Loss: Its Triggers and Management

88 citations, June 2009 in “Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine”

To manage diffuse hair loss, identify the cause, improve nutrition, remove triggers, and use specific treatments like minoxidil or finasteride.

research Neuroimmunology of Stress: Skin Takes Center Stage

375 citations, July 2006 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Stress can worsen skin and hair conditions by affecting the skin's immune response and hormone levels.

research Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and the Skin

137 citations, January 2006 in “Frontiers in bioscience”

CRH in the skin acts like the body's stress response system, affecting cell behavior and immune activity.

research Hair Growth Inhibition by Psychoemotional Stress: A Mouse Model for Neural Mechanisms in Hair Growth Control

127 citations, December 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Stress can stop hair growth in mice, and treatments can reverse this effect.

research Hair Melanocytes as Neuro-Endocrine Sensors—Pigments for Our Imagination

43 citations, October 2005 in “Molecular and cellular endocrinology”

Hair melanocytes help the skin respond to stress and regulate hair pigmentation.

research Two Mouse Mutations Mapped to Chromosome 11 with Differing Morphologies but Similar Progressive Inflammatory Alopecia

7 citations, May 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Two mouse mutations cause similar hair loss despite different skin changes.

research Hair Follicle Pigmentation: Mechanisms and Factors Influencing Melanin Production

450 citations, January 2005 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Hair color is determined by melanin produced and transferred in hair follicles.

research Minoxidil: Mechanisms of Action on Hair Growth

397 citations, February 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Minoxidil boosts hair growth by opening potassium channels and increasing cell activity.

research Vitamin D3 Analogs Stimulate Hair Growth in Nude Mice

40 citations, October 2002 in “Endocrinology”

Vitamin D3 analogs can promote hair growth in mice genetically prone to hair loss.

research KF19418, A New Compound for Hair Growth Promotion in Vitro and in Vivo Mouse Models

15 citations, April 2001 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

KF19418 promotes hair growth similarly to minoxidil but is not better in live mice.

research Melanogenesis Is Coupled to Murine Anagen: New Concepts for the Role of Melanocytes and Regulation of Melanogenesis in Hair Growth

109 citations, July 1993 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Hair color production is closely linked to the active growth phase of hair in mice and may also influence hair growth itself.

Similar Research

5 / 126 results

research Stress-Related Skin Disorders

67 citations, July 2016 in “Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders”

Stress can worsen skin conditions by affecting hormone levels and immune response.

research Alopecia Areata: Hyperactivity of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis Is a Myth?

5 citations, May 2017 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

The study found no significant difference in stress hormone levels between people with alopecia areata and healthy individuals, suggesting that the disease is not caused by an overactive stress response system.

research Cyberspace Chat: Beyond Genetics Part III: Evidence That Lifestyle Choices May Impact Hair Loss in Androgenetic Alopecia

July 2012 in “Hair transplant forum international”

Lifestyle choices like stress, smoking, heavy drinking, sun exposure, and chemical hair treatments might speed up hair loss in people with androgenetic alopecia.

research The Local Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis in Cultured Human Dermal Papilla Cells

9 citations, June 2020 in “BMC Molecular and Cell Biology”

Stress hormone CRF can cause hair loss by affecting hair growth cells and hormones.

research Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum Pharmacopuncture Solution Facilitates Hair Growth in C57BL/6 Mice

4 citations, June 2016 in “Journal of Pharmacopuncture”

Cornu cervi pantotrichum pharmacopuncture solution helps mice grow hair by increasing hair follicle cell growth and a growth factor important for hair development.