Hair Follicle Culture

January 2012 in “ Methods in pharmacology and toxicology ”

Michael P. Philpott

hair follicle culture hair growth regulatory factors drug responses signal transduction pathways siRNA hair biology regulation

Studysummary This review discusses the use of cultured hair follicles for studying hair growth regulation and reports the challenge of modeling the entire hair cycle in vitro. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

Hair follicle organ culture allowed the maintenance of individual hair follicles from various species in culture, enabling the study of hair growth regulatory factors, drug responses, and signal transduction pathways. Despite its usefulness, the model had limitations, such as the inability to model the entire hair cycle in vitro and difficulty in maintaining follicles beyond 10 days. However, it showed promise for use with siRNA to enhance understanding of hair biology regulation.

View this study on link.springer.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

18 / 18 results

research Activation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-3 Inhibits Human Hair Growth

105 citations , May 2011 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This study found that activation of the TRPV3 ion channel inhibits human hair growth by affecting hair follicles and outer root sheath keratinocytes.

research Methods in Hair Research: How to Objectively Distinguish Between Anagen and Catagen in Human Hair Follicle Organ Culture

132 citations , September 2009 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This study introduced a new classification system for distinguishing between anagen VI and early catagen stages in human hair follicle organ culture, using it to confirm eflornithine's ability to induce premature catagen.

research Profiling the Response of Human Hair Follicles to Ultraviolet Radiation

53 citations , January 2009 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

In this study, UVB irradiation of organ-cultured human anagen hair follicles in vitro reduced hair elongation and increased cell death, affecting hair growth and regulatory processes.

research Temporary Hair Removal by Low Fluence Photoepilation: Histological Study on Biopsies and Cultured Human Hair Follicles

134 citations , September 2008 in “Lasers in surgery and medicine”

This study found that low fluence photoepilation with intense pulsed light targets the pigmented area of hair follicles, causing temporary hair loss by inducing a catagen-like state without severe follicle damage.

research Dissecting the Impact of Chemotherapy on the Human Hair Follicle

99 citations , September 2007 in “The American journal of pathology”

This study found that organ-cultured human scalp hair follicles can mimic chemotherapy-induced damage in vivo and serve as a model to explore molecular targets and protective agents for hair follicle preservation.

Human Scalp Hair Follicles Are Both a Target and a Source of Prolactin, Which Serves as an Autocrine and/or Paracrine Promoter of Apoptosis-Driven Hair Follicle Regression

research Human Scalp Hair Follicles Are Both a Target and a Source of Prolactin, Which Serves as an Autocrine and/or Paracrine Promoter of Apoptosis-Driven Hair Follicle Regression

128 citations , March 2006 in “American Journal of Pathology”

The study found that prolactin expressed in human scalp hair follicles acts as an autocrine modulator, inhibiting hair growth and promoting hair follicle regression, which may contribute to hair loss in hyper-prolactinemia patients.

Towards Dissecting the Pathogenesis of Retinoid-Induced Hair Loss: All-Trans Retinoic Acid Induces Premature Hair Follicle Regression by Upregulation of Transforming Growth Factor-β2 in the Dermal Papilla

research Towards Dissecting the Pathogenesis of Retinoid-Induced Hair Loss: All-Trans Retinoic Acid Induces Premature Hair Follicle Regression by Upregulation of Transforming Growth Factor-β2 in the Dermal Papilla

92 citations , June 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that the retinoid all-trans retinoic acid induced a catagen-like stage in human scalp hair follicles, suggesting upregulation of TGF-beta2 as a contributing mechanism.

research Cyclical Changes in Rat Vibrissa Follicles Maintained In Vitro

34 citations , December 2000 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This study observed that rat vibrissa hair follicles cultured in vitro showed morphological changes suggesting cyclical activity but remained blocked in the pro-anagen stage.

research Serum-Free Culture of Wool Follicles: Effects of Nutrients, Growth Factors, and Hormones

11 citations , October 1997 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that a serum-free culture system supported hair growth from follicles responsive to calcium, glucose, and amino acids, with insulin enhancing the growth, while other factors had no effect.

research Inhibition of Polyamine Synthesis Alters Hair Follicle Function and Fiber Composition

42 citations , February 1996 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that spermidine, a polyamine, plays an essential role in hair growth in sheep follicles, while spermine is not required for normal follicle function.

research Prolonged Maintenance of Human Hair Follicles In Vitro in a Serum-Free Medium

36 citations , October 1993 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

In this study, isolated human hair follicles maintained prolonged growth and consistent DNA and keratin synthesis patterns in a fully defined medium for at least 9 days while preserving in vivo-like morphology.

research Organ Culture of Human Hair Follicles in Serum-Free Medium

27 citations , January 1993 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

In this study, minoxidil sulphate was observed to significantly increase DNA synthesis in cultured human hair follicles in a concentration-dependent manner.

research Rat Hair Follicle Growth In Vitro

58 citations , December 1992 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

In this study, insulin-like growth factor-1 did not impact hair follicle elongation in rat pelage hair follicles, while transforming growth factor-beta 1 inhibited both elongation and thymidine uptake.

research Hair Growth In Vitro From Histocultured Skin

25 citations , August 1992 in “In vitro cellular & developmental biology”

The new system can grow hair in the lab and test hair growth treatments.

research Human Hair Growth In Vitro

385 citations , November 1990 in “Journal of Cell Science”

This study successfully grew and maintained human hair follicles in vitro, noting that TGF-β1 negatively affects growth, while EGF replicates hair-removal effects seen in animals.

research Minoxidil Stimulates Mouse Vibrissae Follicles in Organ Culture

121 citations , March 1989 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Minoxidil can help grow hair in mice by making cells grow and improving hair quality. More research needed.

research Alarm Reaction of Pilosebaceous Apparatus

4 citations , July 1979 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This study describes "alarm reaction" histologic changes in pilosebaceous structures, including regression of hair matrix and alterations in sebaceous glands, affecting follicular and sebaceous gland morphology.

research In Vitro Growth of Postembryonic Hair

38 citations , August 1973 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”