Growth Hormone Operates as a Neuroendocrine Regulator of Human Hair Growth Ex Vivo

January 2019 in “ The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology ”

Majid Alam, D. Below, Jérémy Chéret, Ewan A. Langan, Marta Bertolini, Francisco Jiménez, Ralf Paus

growth hormone GH neuroendocrine regulator human hair follicles GH receptor GHR outer root sheath ORS recombinant GH catagen development transforming growth factor-β2 TGF-β2 insulin-like growth factor 1 IGF-1 hair follicles catagen

TLDR Growth hormone is important for regulating human hair growth.

The study demonstrated that growth hormone (GH) acted as a neuroendocrine regulator of human hair follicles (HFs) ex vivo, with GH receptor (GHR) expression confirmed in female human scalp HFs, particularly in the outer root sheath (ORS). Treatment with recombinant GH induced premature catagen development, suggesting GH promotes hair follicle regression through increased expression of transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2), despite also up-regulating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). The study analyzed 39-44 HFs from three female donors, highlighting the complex role of GH in hair biology and suggesting potential therapeutic targets for hair growth regulation.

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