Human Hair Growth In Vitro

November 1990 in “ Journal of Cell Science ”

Michael P. Philpott, Martin R. Green, Terence Kealey

human hair follicles anagen hair follicles Williams E medium keratinized hair shaft TGF-β1 EGF transforming growth factor beta 1 epidermal growth factor

Studysummary This study successfully grew and maintained human hair follicles in vitro, noting that TGF-β1 negatively affects growth, while EGF replicates hair-removal effects seen in animals.

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The study successfully demonstrated the maintenance and growth of human hair follicles in vitro for the first time. Human anagen hair follicles were isolated from scalp skin and cultured in supplemented Williams E medium, showing a significant increase in length over 4 days due to keratinized hair shaft production without losing follicle morphology. The in vitro DNA synthesis pattern mirrored in vivo conditions, and keratin synthesis patterns remained unchanged. The model highlighted the negative growth-regulatory effect of TGF-β1 and the depilatory effects of EGF, similar to those observed in vivo in sheep and mice.

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