Effects of Minoxidil on Cultured Human Skin Fibroblasts

The study found that minoxidil inhibited lysyl hydroxylase activity in human skin fibroblasts, which is involved in collagen biosynthesis, without affecting prolyl hydroxylase activity. Minoxidil also inhibited fibroblast proliferation, but did not affect protein or RNA synthesis. The study suggests that minoxidil may be useful in controlling overgrowth of connective tissue and in managing conditions such as keloids, hypertrophic scars, and scleroderma.