Expansion of Human Dermal Papilla Cells for Clinical Applications Using Human Platelet-Rich Plasma as a Substitute for Fetal Bovine Serum

This study investigated the use of human platelet-rich plasma (hPRP) as a substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) in the expansion of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs), which are crucial for hair regeneration. The researchers found that hPRP significantly improved the proliferation and hair-inductive capacity of hDPCs compared to FBS. Specifically, hPRP shortened the population doubling time and increased the number of proliferating cells, while also enhancing the expression of genes related to hair induction. In vivo assays showed that hPRP led to a greater number and maturity of regenerated hair follicles. These results suggest that hPRP is a viable alternative to FBS for hDPC expansion, supporting its potential use in developing effective hair regeneration therapies.