Repurposing DPP4-Inhibition to Improve Hair Follicle Activation and Regeneration

The study "Repurposing DPP4-Inhibition to Improve Hair Follicle Activation and Regeneration" investigates the role of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) in hair follicle growth and loss. The researchers found that DPP4 is overrepresented in situations of hair follicle loss and nonregenerative wound areas. Using sitagliptin, a DPP4 inhibitor, on mouse models, they found it accelerated the active growth phase of hair follicles, reduced fibrosis markers, and increased hair follicle regeneration around wounds. The study also found that sitagliptin treatment resulted in a shorter time for cells to reach a differentiated state compared to control cells. However, sitagliptin treatment alone does not induce anagen entry in mice at the resting stage, but when used with depilation, it showed faster anagen progression. The study concludes that DPP4 inhibition could potentially be used as a treatment to reverse hair follicle loss in alopecia and after injury.