HaCaT-Conditioned Medium Supplemented with Small Molecule Inhibitors SB431542 and CHIR99021 and Growth Factor PDGF-AA Prevents the Dedifferentiation of Dermal Papilla Cells In Vitro

The study demonstrated that a combination of HaCaT-conditioned medium, small molecule inhibitors SB431542 and CHIR99021, and the growth factor PDGF-AA can prevent the dedifferentiation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in vitro. DPCs are crucial for hair growth but tend to lose their hair-inducing properties during in vitro culture. The researchers found that this combination stimulated cell proliferation and maintained the expression of key proteins Sox2 and Versican. When DPCs were cultured in three-dimensional conditions using this supplemented medium, the cells formed larger aggregates and further increased the expression of Sox2, Versican, and alkaline phosphatase. This suggests that this method could preserve the hair-inducing ability of DPCs and potentially be useful in reconstructing new hair follicles in vivo, contributing to treatments for hair loss conditions like alopecia.