Growth Hormone and the Human Hair Follicle

    December 2021 in “ International journal of molecular sciences ”
    Elijah J. Horesh, Jérémy Chéret, Ralf Paus
    TLDR Growth hormone levels affect hair growth and loss, with too much causing excess hair and too little leading to hair loss.
    The paper "Growth Hormone and the Human Hair Follicle" investigates the role of growth hormone (GH) in hair follicle biology. The authors found that excessive GH serum levels can lead to hypertrichosis and hirsutism, while dysfunctional GH receptor-mediated signaling is linked with alopecia and hair follicle defects. Recombinant human GH inhibits female human scalp hair follicles' growth ex vivo, likely by stimulating the expression of the catagen-inducing growth factor, TGF-β2. Conditions leading to GH deficiency, such as Noonan Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, and Prader–Willi syndrome, are associated with hair loss conditions. Conversely, conditions of GH excess, like acromegaly, are associated with increased hair growth. The authors conclude that further research into GH's role in hair follicle biology could guide treatment options for various hair disorders.
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