Epidermal Growth Factor Promotes Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Mediated Wound Healing and Hair Follicle Regeneration

In a study conducted in 2017, researchers found that epidermal growth factor (EGF) significantly enhanced the wound healing and hair follicle regeneration capabilities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The study involved both in vivo and in vitro experiments, including the transplantation of excisional wounds in rats with different collagen-chitosan scaffolds. The results showed that wounds were significantly smaller and hair grew faster in the group treated with both MSCs and EGF. Histological analysis revealed more hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and newly formed blood vessels in this group compared to the group treated with MSCs alone. The study concluded that EGF can promote MSC-mediated wound healing and hair follicle regeneration, suggesting that the combined administration of MSCs and EGF could be a promising therapeutic strategy for wound management and hair follicle regeneration.