Editorial: Hair Follicle Stem Cell Regeneration in Aging

November 2021 in “ Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology ”

Mingxing Lei, Sung‐Jan Lin, Cheng‐Ming Chuong

Studysummary Aging causes hair loss and graying due to stem cell decline and changes in cell behavior and communication.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The document discusses the decline in hair follicle stem cell regeneration with aging, leading to hair loss and graying. It explains that these cells either enter a long quiescent state, differentiate into other skin epithelial lineages, or escape from the hair follicle niche during aging. The role of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including UVA, Vitamin A, inflammation, and the dermal papilla, in regulating these changes is highlighted. The potential of in vitro culture models in restoring hair regeneration is also discussed. The document concludes that factors such as stem cell exhaustion, cellular senescence, and altered intercellular communication contribute to aging-related hair loss and graying. The authors hope that this understanding will inspire new therapeutic strategies for treating aging-related hair disorders.

View this study on frontiersin.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

24 / 24 results

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals an Inhibitory Effect of Dihydrotestosterone-Treated 2D- and 3D-Cultured Dermal Papilla Cells on Hair Follicle Growth

research Transcriptome Analysis Reveals an Inhibitory Effect of Dihydrotestosterone-Treated 2D- and 3D-Cultured Dermal Papilla Cells on Hair Follicle Growth

5 citations , September 2021 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This study found that 3D-cultured dermal papilla cells more accurately mimic in vivo conditions compared to 2D cultures, enhancing our understanding of molecular mechanisms in androgen-induced alopecia.

research Human iPS Cell-Derived Cell Aggregates Exhibited Dermal Papilla Cell Properties in In Vitro Three-Dimensional Assemblage Mimicking Hair Follicle Structures

10 citations , August 2021 in “Frontiers in cell and developmental biology”

This study suggests the possibility of regenerating hair follicle structures in vitro using hiPSC-derived cell composites, which might reduce reliance on human tissue-derived cells for hair bioengineering.

research Establishment of an Efficient Primary Culture System for Human Hair Follicle Stem Cells Using the Rho-Associated Protein Kinase Inhibitor Y-27632

16 citations , March 2021 in “Frontiers in cell and developmental biology”

This study established an efficient short-term culture system for human hair follicle stem cells using human fibronectin and ROCK inhibitor Y-27632, enhancing cell proliferation and stemness for potential applications in hair follicle tissue engineering.

research Tissue Mechanics in Haired Murine Skin: Potential Implications for Skin Aging

9 citations , February 2021 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This review discusses the role of tissue mechanics and extracellular matrix in skin aging processes and highlights potential therapeutic strategies, but reports no new clinical results.

$Dietary Vitamin A Impacts Refractory Telogen$

research Dietary Vitamin A Impacts Refractory Telogen

6 citations , February 2021 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This study suggests that vitamin A may inhibit hair follicle stem cells during refractory telogen in a dose-dependent manner, based on retinyl ester levels and vitamin A metabolism protein localization in mice.

research Skin Cyst: A Pathological Dead-End With a New Twist of Morphogenetic Potentials in Organoid Cultures

5 citations , January 2021 in “Frontiers in cell and developmental biology”

This paper discusses the multipotency of cyst cells and proposes that understanding molecular circuits in cyst formation could enable engineering of desired stem cell culture phenotypes, but reports no new experimental outcomes.

research Increased Expression of Zyxin and Its Potential Function in Androgenetic Alopecia

5 citations , January 2021 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This study found that elevated expression of the protein Zyxin in hair follicles is associated with androgenetic alopecia and suggests it may be targeted for therapy.

MiR-140-5p in Small Extracellular Vesicles From Human Papilla Cells Stimulates Hair Growth by Promoting Proliferation of Outer Root Sheath and Hair Matrix Cells

research MiR-140-5p in Small Extracellular Vesicles From Human Papilla Cells Stimulates Hair Growth by Promoting Proliferation of Outer Root Sheath and Hair Matrix Cells

18 citations , December 2020 in “Frontiers in cell and developmental biology”

This study found that extracellular vesicles from low-passage dermal papilla cells may activate hair growth by delivering miR-140-5p, which downregulates BMP2 signaling, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for alopecia.

An Intrinsic Oscillation of Gene Networks Inside Hair Follicle Stem Cells: An Additional Layer That Can Modulate Hair Stem Cell Activities

research An Intrinsic Oscillation of Gene Networks Inside Hair Follicle Stem Cells: An Additional Layer That Can Modulate Hair Stem Cell Activities

23 citations , December 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This review explores recent insights into how intrinsic gene oscillations and molecular interactions in hair follicle stem cells contribute to their regenerative potential, with potential implications for regenerative medicine, but reports no new clinical results.

research Human Fetal Scalp Dermal Papilla Enriched Genes and the Role of R-Spondin-1 in the Restoration of Hair Neogenesis in Adult Mouse Cells

8 citations , November 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This study reported that exogenous R-spondin-1 can restore hair follicle neogenesis in adult mouse cells, highlighting differences in gene expression and signaling pathways between fetal and adult dermal papilla cells.

research Two-Cell Assemblage Assay: A Simple In Vitro Method for Screening Hair Growth-Promoting Compounds

5 citations , November 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This study introduced a simple and reliable in vitro assay capable of large-scale simultaneous screening of hair growth-promoting compounds using a 3D co-culture system of human dermal papilla and outer root sheath cells.

research Epidermal Stem Cells in Hair Follicle Cycling and Skin Regeneration: A View From the Perspective of Inflammation

18 citations , November 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This review discusses how inflammation influences hair follicle stem cell activities like wound healing and follicle cycling and suggests a potential link between inflammation, stem cell activation, and programmed cell death.

research Wound-Induced Hair Neogenesis: A Novel Paradigm for Studying Regeneration and Aging

10 citations , October 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This review explores the cellular and molecular basis of wound-induced hair neogenesis and its relationship with aging but does not report new clinical results, highlighting areas for future research.

research Knockdown of FOXA2 Impairs Hair-Inductive Activity of Cultured Human Follicular Keratinocytes

5 citations , October 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This study found that the trichogenicity of cultured human outer root sheath follicular keratinocytes decreased with longer cultivation periods and was significantly influenced by the expression of the transcription factor FOXA2.

research IL-36α Promoted Wound-Induced Hair Follicle Neogenesis via Hair Follicle Stem/Progenitor Cell Proliferation

7 citations , September 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This study found that recombinant murine IL-36α increased the number of regenerated hair follicles and accelerated wound healing in a mouse model of wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis.

Twist1 Contributes to the Maintenance of Some Biological Properties of Dermal Papilla Cells In Vitro by Forming a Complex With Tcf4 and β-Catenin

research Twist1 Contributes to the Maintenance of Some Biological Properties of Dermal Papilla Cells In Vitro by Forming a Complex With Tcf4 and β-Catenin

13 citations , August 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This study found that Twist1 and Tcf4 synergistically regulate the hair follicle induction ability of dermal papilla cells by forming a complex with β-catenin, enhancing their biological properties.

Purified Vitexin Compound 1 Inhibits UVA-Induced Cellular Senescence in Human Dermal Fibroblasts by Binding Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1

research Purified Vitexin Compound 1 Inhibits UVA-Induced Cellular Senescence in Human Dermal Fibroblasts by Binding Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1

3 citations , July 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This study found that the purified compound VB1 from Vitex negundo seeds may reduce UVA-induced skin aging by targeting MAPK1 and demonstrated its potential in mice.

Regulation of Melanocyte Stem Cells in the Pigmentation of Skin and Its Appendages: Biological Patterning and Therapeutic Potentials

research Regulation of Melanocyte Stem Cells in the Pigmentation of Skin and Its Appendages: Biological Patterning and Therapeutic Potentials

41 citations , December 2018 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This review explores recent findings on the roles of melanocyte and melanocyte stem cells in the hair follicle, highlighting their importance for skin health and potential applications in regenerative medicine, but reports no new clinical results.

research Self-Organization Process in Newborn Skin Organoid Formation Inspires Strategy to Restore Hair Regeneration of Adult Cells

92 citations , August 2017 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

This study found that newborn mouse skin organoids can robustly grow hair in vivo, while adult organoids require specific interventions to restore their hair-forming ability.

research Aging, Alopecia, and Stem Cells

42 citations , February 2016 in “Science”

The document concludes that both internal stem cell factors and external influences like the environment and hormones affect hair loss and aging, with potential treatments focusing on these areas.

research Hair Follicle Aging Is Driven by Transepidermal Elimination of Stem Cells via COL17A1 Proteolysis

242 citations , February 2016 in “Science”

This research found that Foxc1 transcription factor and COL17A1 are critical in regulating quiescence and hair thinning in hair follicle stem cells, with aging-related DNA damage leading to hair loss.

research Regenerative Hair Waves in Aging Mice and Extra-Follicular Modulators Follistatin, Dkk1, and Sfrp4

75 citations , March 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that aging mice experience slower and more fragmented hair cycle waves, but transplanting aged skin to a young host can partially restore hair cycling, implicating extracellular factors.

research New Hair From Healing Wounds

57 citations , May 2007 in “Nature”

This study suggests that wounding skin in adult mice can trigger new hair follicle formation, indicating mammalian skin may have greater regenerative capacity than previously thought.

research Wnt-Dependent De Novo Hair Follicle Regeneration in Adult Mouse Skin After Wounding

829 citations , May 2007 in “Nature”

Hair follicles can regrow in wounded adult mouse skin using a process like embryo development.