Fibroblast Growth Factor-7 and Hair Biology: Bridging Basic Science and Therapeutic Applications

    January 2026 in “ Current Issues in Molecular Biology ”
    Huey-Chun Huang, Wang-Ju Hsieh, Ivona Percec, Tsong-Min Chang
    Studysummary This paper reviews the emerging role of FGF-7 signaling in hair regeneration, highlighting its potential as a target for new therapies despite limited clinical trial data.
    Automatically generated from the study's abstract, not written by a person, and not a review of the full paper. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Read the original study, and consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    Read the full study on mdpi.com →
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study 44

    1. Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in Hair Regeneration: Mechanistic Pathways and Therapeutic Potential Current Issues in Molecular Biology · 2025
    2. Recent Advances in the Role of Fibroblast Growth Factors in Hair Follicle Growth Biomolecules · 2025
    3. Subcutaneous Injection of Genetically Engineered Exosomes for Androgenic Alopecia Treatment Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology · 2025
    4. Functional Regeneration Strategies of Hair Follicles: Advances and Challenges Stem Cell Research & Therapy · 2025
    5. Growth Factors IGF-1 and KGF and Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Promote Migration and Viability of Primary Human Keratinocytes in an In Vitro Wound Model Frontiers in Medicine · 2025
    6. Advances in Research of Hydrogel Microneedle-Based Delivery Systems for Disease Treatment Pharmaceutics · 2024
    7. Exosomes for Treating Hair Loss: A Review of Clinical Studies Dermatologic Surgery · 2024
    8. Advances In Polymeric Nano-Delivery Systems Targeting Hair Follicles For The Treatment Of Acne Drug Delivery · 2024
    9. The Roles of Exosomes in Regulating Hair Follicle Growth Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology · 2024
    10. Application of Multi-Omics Techniques to Androgenetic Alopecia: Current Status and Perspectives Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal · 2024
    11. The Biology and Genomics of Human Hair Follicles: A Focus on Androgenetic Alopecia International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2024
    12. BFNB Enhances Hair Growth in C57BL/6 Mice Through the Induction of EGF and FGF7 Factors and the PI3K-AKT-Beta-Catenin Pathway International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2023
    13. Systematic Review of Exosome Treatment in Hair Restoration: Preliminary Evidence, Safety, and Future Directions Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2023
    14. Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapy Update Drugs · 2023
    15. Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: What Is Available and What Is Coming? Current Oncology · 2023
    16. Morphogenesis, Growth Cycle, and Molecular Regulation of Hair Follicles Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · 2022
    17. Keep Quiet—How Stress Regulates Hair Follicle Stem Cells Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy · 2021
    18. Finasteride for Hair Loss: A Review Journal of Dermatological Treatment · 2021
    19. Health-Related Quality of Life, Depression, and Self-Esteem in Patients With Androgenetic Alopecia JAMA Dermatology · 2021
    20. Altered FGF Expression Profile in Human Scalp-Derived Fibroblasts Upon WNT Activation: Implication of Their Role in Providing a Folliculogenetic Microenvironment Inflammation and Regeneration · 2020
    21. Short Communication: Clinical Evaluation of Pea Sprout Extract in the Treatment of Hair Loss Phytotherapy Research · 2019
    22. Platelet-Rich Plasma and Micrografts Enriched with Autologous Human Follicle Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Hair Regrowth in Androgenetic Alopecia: Biomolecular Pathway Analysis and Clinical Evaluation Biomedicines · 2019
    23. Keratinocyte Growth Factor Modified Messenger RNA Accelerating Cell Proliferation and Migration of Keratinocytes Nucleic Acid Therapeutics · 2018
    24. Minoxidil Promotes Hair Growth Through Stimulation of Growth Factor Release from Adipose-Derived Stem Cells International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2018
    25. FGF5 Is a Crucial Regulator of Hair Length in Humans Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2014
    26. Exogenous IGF-1 Promotes Hair Growth by Stimulating Cell Proliferation and Downregulating TGF-β1 in C57BL/6 Mice In Vivo Growth Hormone & IGF Research · 2014
    27. Fgf9 From Dermal γδ T Cells Induces Hair Follicle Neogenesis After Wounding Nature Medicine · 2013
    28. Pretreatment of Epidermal Growth Factor Promotes Primary Hair Recovery via the Dystrophic Anagen Pathway After Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia Experimental Dermatology · 2013
    29. Pathobiology of Chemotherapy-Induced Hair Loss The Lancet Oncology · 2013
    30. VEGF Induces Proliferation of Human Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells Through VEGFR-2-Mediated Activation of ERK Experimental Cell Research · 2012
    31. Minoxidil Use in Dermatology, Side Effects, and Recent Patents Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery · 2012
    32. Effect of IGF-I on Hair Growth Is Related to the Anti-Apoptotic Effect of IGF-I and Up-Regulation of PDGF-A and PDGF-B Annals of Dermatology · 2012
    33. Bald Scalp in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Retains Hair Follicle Stem Cells but Lacks CD200-Rich and CD34-Positive Hair Follicle Progenitor Cells Journal of Clinical Investigation · 2011
    34. Ex Vivo Organ Culture of Human Hair Follicles: A Model Epithelial–Neuroectodermal–Mesenchymal Interaction System Methods in molecular biology · 2010
    35. KGF And EGF Signaling Block Hair Follicle Induction And Promote Interfollicular Epidermal Fate In Developing Mouse Skin Development · 2009
    36. Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: Emotional Distress and Mitigation Strategies Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery · 2009
    37. The Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2b in Skin Homeostasis and Cancer Development The EMBO Journal · 2007
    38. Adenosine Stimulates Fibroblast Growth Factor-7 Gene Expression Via Adenosine A2b Receptor Signaling in Dermal Papilla Cells ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 2007
    39. Gene Delivery to the Hair Follicle Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings · 2003
    40. Epidermal Growth Factor as a Biological Switch in Hair Growth Cycle Journal of biological chemistry/˜The œJournal of biological chemistry · 2003
    41. Control of Hair Growth and Follicle Size by VEGF-Mediated Angiogenesis Journal of Clinical Investigation · 2001
    42. Expression and Function of Keratinocyte Growth Factor and Activin in Skin Morphogenesis and Cutaneous Wound Repair ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/˜The œJournal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings · 2000
    43. Human Hair Growth In Vitro: A Model for the Study of Hair Follicle Biology Journal of Dermatological Science · 1994
    44. Effects of Epidermal Growth Factor on the Morphology and Patterns of DNA Synthesis in Isolated Human Hair Follicles ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 1994