Hair Follicle-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Decrease Alopecia Areata Mouse Hair Loss and Reduce Inflammation Around the Hair Follicle

The research investigated the effects of hair follicle-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HF-MSCs) on alopecia areata (AA), a hair loss condition, in mice. The study involved both in vitro and in vivo models. In the in vitro model, mouse vibrissa follicles were pre-treated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) to induce AA-like symptoms. Co-culturing these follicles with HF-MSCs for 2 days relieved these symptoms. In the in vivo model, skin grafted C3H/HeJ AA mice were injected with 106 HF-MSCs once a week for 3 weeks. This significantly decreased hair loss and reduced inflammation around the hair follicle. The HF-MSC treatment also upregulated the expression of Ki67, a protein associated with cell proliferation, and suppressed the expression of caspase1 and MHC I, inflammation and immune response markers. The study suggests that HF-MSCs could potentially be used as a treatment for AA.