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.

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Research cited in this study

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

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