Disrupted Citric Acid Metabolism Inhibits Hair Growth

July 2022 in “ Journal of dermatology ”

Xiaofeng Shi, Yahui Chen, Kai Yang, Yifei Zhu, Yanyun Ma, Qingmei Liu, Ji'an Wang, Chunya Ni, Yue Zhang, Haiyang Li, Jinran Lin, Jiucun Wang, Wenyu Wu

citric acid citrate synthase hair growth suppression skin lesions inflammation cell apoptosis catagen entry p-p65 apoptosis signaling NLRP3 human hair follicles hair shaft production dermal papilla cell proliferation cell cycle arrest CA CS HFs DPC

TLDR Disrupted citric acid metabolism stops hair growth.

The study investigates the role of citric acid (CA) metabolism in hair growth, focusing on the citrate synthase (CS)–CA axis. Subcutaneous injection of CA in mice led to significant hair growth suppression, skin lesions, inflammation, cell apoptosis, and promotion of catagen entry by activating p-p65 and apoptosis signaling in an NLRP3-dependent manner. In cultured human hair follicles (HFs), CA reduced hair shaft production and accelerated catagen entry. Additionally, CA inhibited dermal papilla cell (DPC) proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Knockdown of CS reduced CA production and reversed CA-induced hair growth inhibition, inflammation, and apoptosis in HFs and DPCs. The findings suggest that the CS–CA axis is a crucial mediator in hair growth and a potential therapeutic target.

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