Hair-Growth Promoting Effect of Bimatoprost

In 2011, a study conducted by Kang, Kim, Park, Koh, and Yoo from Jeju National University in South Korea found that bimatoprost, a PGF2α analogue, significantly promoted hair growth. The researchers tested several PGF2α analogues, including latanoprost, bimatoprost, unoprostone, and travoprost, on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPC), which regulate hair cycle and length. Bimatoprost showed the most effectiveness in promoting DPC proliferation. When applied to rat vibrissa follicles, bimatoprost significantly increased hair-fiber length. The study also found that bimatoprost decreased the Sub-G1 population and increased the expression of cell cycle regulated proteins such as CDK2 and Cyclin E in DPC. Additionally, bimatoprost increased the expression of β-catenin and Cox-2, a target gene of β-catenin. The results suggested that bimatoprost promoted hair growth by progressing the cell cycle through the upregulation of CDK2, Cyclin E, and β-catenin.