Hair Regeneration by Small Molecules That Activate Autophagy

January 2018 in “ Social Science Research Network ”

Min Chai, Meisheng Jiang, Laurent Vergnes, Xudong Fu, Stéphanie C. de Barros, Jing Jiao, Harvey R. Herschman, Karen Reue, Jing Huang

autophagy α-ketoglutarate α-ketobutyrate rapamycin metformin TOR signaling pathway AMPK signaling pathway alopecia hair regeneration hormonal dysfunction autoimmunity hair loss hair growth TOR pathway AMPK pathway

TLDR Certain small molecules that trigger cell cleanup processes can promote hair growth.

The study explored the potential of small molecules that activate autophagy to stimulate hair regeneration. Researchers identified that longevity metabolites such as α-ketoglutarate and α-ketobutyrate, along with prescription drugs like rapamycin and metformin, which affect TOR and AMPK signaling pathways, could promote hair growth. This finding suggested a promising avenue for developing treatments for hair loss or alopecia, which affects millions globally due to various factors including aging, hormonal issues, autoimmunity, and cancer treatments.

View this study on papers.ssrn.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

12 / 12 results

research Autophagy Is Essential for Maintaining the Growth of a Human Mini-Organ: Evidence from Scalp Hair Follicle Organ Culture

42 citations, March 2018 in “PLOS Biology”

Autophagy is important for human hair growth and health.

research Pharmacologic Inhibition of JAK-STAT Signaling Promotes Hair Growth

159 citations, October 2015 in “Science Advances”

Blocking JAK-STAT signaling can lead to hair growth.

Mitochondrial Function in Murine Skin Epithelium Is Crucial for Hair Follicle Morphogenesis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interactions

research Mitochondrial Function in Murine Skin Epithelium Is Crucial for Hair Follicle Morphogenesis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interactions

56 citations, March 2015 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Healthy mitochondria in skin cells are essential for proper hair growth and skin cell interaction in mice.

research mTOR Signaling Promotes Stem Cell Activation via Counterbalancing BMP-Mediated Suppression During Hair Regeneration

71 citations, January 2015 in “Journal of molecular cell biology/Journal of Molecular Cell Biology”

mTOR signaling helps activate hair stem cells by balancing out the suppression caused by BMP during hair growth.

research Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Promote Epidermal Differentiation and Hair Follicle Development

277 citations, February 2013 in “Science Signaling”

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species are essential for skin and hair development.

Therapeutic Strategy for Hair Regeneration: Hair Cycle Activation, Niche Environment Modulation, Wound-Induced Follicle Neogenesis, and Stem Cell Engineering

research Therapeutic Strategy for Hair Regeneration: Hair Cycle Activation, Niche Environment Modulation, Wound-Induced Follicle Neogenesis, and Stem Cell Engineering

74 citations, January 2013 in “Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy”

The conclusion is that hair growth can be improved by activating hair cycles, changing the surrounding environment, healing wounds to create new hair follicles, and using stem cell technology.

research Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) May Modulate the Timing of Anagen Entry in Mouse Hair Follicles

28 citations, November 2012 in “Experimental dermatology”

A protein complex called mTORC1 likely affects when hair growth starts in mice.

research Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss

421 citations, April 2012 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss with no cure and treatments that often don't work well.

research Genome-Wide Association Study in Alopecia Areata Implicates Both Innate and Adaptive Immunity

717 citations, June 2010 in “Nature”

Alopecia areata involves both innate and adaptive immunity, with specific genes linked to the disease.

research The Hair Follicle as a Dynamic Mini-Organ

759 citations, February 2009 in “Current Biology”

Hair follicles are complex, dynamic mini-organs that help us understand cell growth, death, migration, and differentiation, as well as tissue regeneration and tumor biology.

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.

research Melanogenesis Is Coupled to Murine Anagen: New Concepts for the Role of Melanocytes and Regulation of Melanogenesis in Hair Growth

109 citations, July 1993 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Hair color production is closely linked to the active growth phase of hair in mice and may also influence hair growth itself.

Similar Research

5 / 717 results

research Stimulation of Hair Growth by Small Molecules That Activate Autophagy

88 citations, June 2019 in “Cell reports”

Certain small molecules can promote hair growth by activating a cellular cleanup process called autophagy.

research Hair Regeneration by Small Molecules That Activate Autophagy

April 2018 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)”

Certain small molecules can help regrow hair by turning on the body's cell cleanup process.

research Autophagy Dysfunction: The Kernel of Hair Loss?

May 2024 in “Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

Manipulating cell cleanup processes could help treat hair loss.

research Modulating Aging and Aging-Related Symptoms Using Endogenous Small Molecules

January 2019

A molecule called α-ketobutyrate was found to extend lifespan and improve aging-related symptoms in worms and mice by activating certain cellular pathways and may help develop anti-aging treatments for humans.

Topically Applied Magnetized Saline Water Activates Autophagy in the Scalp and Increases Hair Count and Hair Mass Index in Men With Mild-to-Moderate Androgenetic Alopecia

research Topically Applied Magnetized Saline Water Activates Autophagy in the Scalp and Increases Hair Count and Hair Mass Index in Men With Mild-to-Moderate Androgenetic Alopecia

November 2023 in “Cureus”

Magnetized saline water lotion increased hair growth in men with hair loss.