Repurposing of DPP4 Inhibition to Improve Hair Follicle Activation and Regeneration

The study "755 Repurposing of DPP4 inhibition to improve hair follicle activation and regeneration" found that DPP4, a factor overrepresented in resting hair follicles and non-regenerative wound settings, can be inhibited to promote hair follicle activation and regeneration. The researchers used single cell RNAseq analysis and found that inhibiting DPP4 with sitagliptin (Sit) in unwounded skin led to hair follicle activation, upregulation of Wnt and AKT, and downregulation of pro-fibrotic pathways TGFb and Hippo. This inhibition also resulted in faster anagen (active growth phase) induction after depilation in mice and increased anagen induction in wound healing. The study suggests that DPP4 inhibition could be a potential strategy for promoting hair growth in conditions like alopecia.