Human Placenta Induces Hair Regrowth in Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia via Inhibition of Apoptotic Factors and Proliferation of Hair Follicles

In the 2020 study by Kim et al., the effects of human placenta (HP) on hair regrowth in chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) were examined using male C57BL/6 mice. The mice, which had their hair growth phase induced and then disrupted by cyclophosphamide, were treated with HP at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mg/mL. The study found that HP treatment facilitated the recovery of hair follicles and stimulated the growth of new hair. This was evidenced by an increase in Ki67-positive cells, indicating cell proliferation, and a higher Bcl-2/Bax ratio, suggesting an anti-apoptotic effect. HP treatment also led to a decrease in pro-apoptotic factors and an increase in factors promoting hair growth, such as KGF and phosphorylated AKT. The study concluded that HP could be a potential treatment for CIA by reducing apoptosis and enhancing follicle proliferation, but further research is needed to identify the active compounds in HP and assess long-term efficacy.