Sensitive Quantitative In Vivo Assay for Evaluating the Effects of Biomolecules on Hair Growth and Coloring Using Direct Microinjections into Mouse Whisker Follicles

July 2023 in “ Biomolecules ”

Li Gao, He-Li Zhang, Xiao-Yang Tan, Yange Wang, Hongzhi Song, Vicky Lan Yuan, Xin‐Hua Liao

whisker follicle microinjection assay minoxidil ruxolitinib RSPO1 deoxyarbutin Nbl1 melanin hair growth hair coloring Rogaine

Studysummary This study established a novel in vivo "whisker follicle microinjection assay" using mouse whiskers to evaluate hair growth and pigmentation effects of various chemicals and proteins, identifying minoxidil, ruxolitinib, and RSPO1 as growth promoters, while deoxyarbutin inhibited pigmentation and Nbl1 emerged as a growth inhibitor. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study developed a new method, the "whisker follicle microinjection assay", to evaluate the effects of biomolecules on hair growth and coloring using mouse whisker follicles. The researchers injected molecules directly into one side of the whisker follicles and measured the length and color intensity of the regrown whiskers. The chemicals minoxidil and ruxolitinib, and the protein RSPO1, promoted hair growth, with minoxidil's effect detectable at a concentration as low as 0.001%. The chemical deoxyarbutin inhibited melanin production, and the protein Nbl1 was identified as a new hair-growth inhibitor. This assay provides a sensitive and quantitative method to evaluate the effects of chemicals and proteins on hair growth and coloring.

View this study on mdpi.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

25 / 25 results

research An Overview of JAK/STAT Pathways and JAK Inhibition in Alopecia Areata

40 citations , August 2022 in “Frontiers in immunology”

This review discusses the potential of JAK inhibitors as a promising treatment strategy for alopecia areata, highlighting their mechanism and recent FDA approval based on clinical trial efficacy.

Tectoridin Stimulates the Activity of Human Dermal Papilla Cells and Promotes Hair Shaft Elongation in Mouse Vibrissae Hair Follicle Culture

research Tectoridin Stimulates the Activity of Human Dermal Papilla Cells and Promotes Hair Shaft Elongation in Mouse Vibrissae Hair Follicle Culture

7 citations , January 2022 in “Molecules”

This study found that tectoridin, an isoflavone from Rhizoma Belamcandae, may stimulate hair growth by activating Wnt signaling in human and mouse cell cultures.

research Diagnosis and Treatment of Nonscarring Hair Loss in Primary Care in 2021

4 citations , March 2021 in “JAMA”

This article discusses the evaluation and management of common nonscarring hair loss conditions and reports no new clinical results.

research Skin Organoids: A New Human Model for Developmental and Translational Research

31 citations , January 2021 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This review discusses recent advancements in generating appendage-bearing skin organoids from pluripotent stem cells and their potential applications in dermatological research, but reports no new clinical results.

research Dermal Exosomes Containing miR-218-5p Promote Hair Regeneration by Regulating β-Catenin Signaling

65 citations , July 2020 in “Science Advances”

Dermal exosomes with miR-218-5p boost hair growth by controlling β-catenin signaling.

research Cell Types Promoting Goosebumps Form a Niche to Regulate Hair Follicle Stem Cells

77 citations , July 2020 in “Cell”

This study found that sympathetic nerves and arrector pili muscles form a niche that modulates hair follicle stem cell activity, revealing their role in hair follicle regeneration.

research Minoxidil 1 mg Oral Versus Minoxidil 5% Topical Solution for the Treatment of Female-Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized Clinical Trial

53 citations , August 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study observed that low-dose oral minoxidil and topical minoxidil 5% solution both improved hair density in women with female-pattern hair loss, but oral minoxidil may offer advantages in reducing hair shedding.

research A Subset of TREM2+ Dermal Macrophages Secretes Oncostatin M to Maintain Hair Follicle Stem Cell Quiescence and Inhibit Hair Growth

101 citations , March 2019 in “Cell Stem Cell”

This study found that Oncostatin M, via JAK-STAT5 signaling, keeps hair follicle stem cells inactive, and its removal leads to hair growth initiation in mice.

research Evaluating Hair Growth Promoting Effects of Candidate Substances: A Review of Research Methods

28 citations , March 2019 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

This review discusses methods for evaluating hair growth-promoting effects of candidate substances for androgenetic alopecia, focusing on cell assays, organ cultures, and animal models, and reports no new results.

research The Effect of Cilostazol, a Phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) Inhibitor, on Human Hair Growth with Dual Promoting Mechanisms

21 citations , April 2018 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

This study found that topical cilostazol promotes hair growth, enhances hair follicle activities, and may serve as a potential treatment for alopecia.

research Topically Applied Nicotinamide Inhibits Human Hair Follicle Growth Ex Vivo

13 citations , December 2017 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This study observed that nicotinamide can effectively inhibit human hair growth and promote hair follicle regression in cultured human scalp models without negatively affecting epidermal vitality, suggesting its potential as a hair growth inhibitor in cosmetic applications.

research Getting to the Core of the Dermal Papilla

21 citations , October 2017 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This review discusses recent advances in understanding the molecular landscape of the dermal papilla, particularly focusing on Blimp1's role in hair follicle development and potential therapeutic targets for hair regeneration, but presents no new clinical results.

research Oral Ruxolitinib Induces Hair Regrowth in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Alopecia Areata

196 citations , September 2016 in “JCI insight”

This study explored the effectiveness of the oral JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib in treating patients with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata, building on prior success with JAK inhibitors in mice, but results are not reported in this abstract.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: An Update Of Treatment Options

110 citations , August 2016 in “Drugs”

Minoxidil is the only FDA-approved topical drug for treating male or female pattern hair loss, and other medications like finasteride and dutasteride can also increase hair growth.

research Topical Ruxolitinib for the Treatment of Alopecia Universalis

96 citations , December 2015 in “JAMA dermatology”

This article discusses the potential of topical ruxolitinib as a treatment for alopecia universalis and acknowledges the need for alternatives to systemic JAK inhibitors due to the risk of serious side effects.

research Human Hair Follicle Organ Culture: Theory, Application, and Perspectives

130 citations , August 2015 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This review provides a comprehensive guide to serum-free human hair follicle organ culture methods, highlighting research opportunities, standardization efforts, and potential applications without reporting new empirical findings.

research Macrophages Contribute to the Cyclic Activation of Adult Hair Follicle Stem Cells

175 citations , December 2014 in “PLoS Biology”

This study found that macrophages near hair follicles contribute to the activation of skin epithelial stem cells in mice, suggesting a novel role for macrophages in regulating hair growth.

research Alopecia Areata Is Driven by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Is Reversed by JAK Inhibition

701 citations , August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

This study found that JAK inhibitors promote hair regrowth in both mice and human alopecia areata cases by blocking key immune pathways involved in disease development.

The Dermal Papilla: An Instructive Niche for Epithelial Stem and Progenitor Cells in Development and Regeneration of the Hair Follicle

research The Dermal Papilla: An Instructive Niche for Epithelial Stem and Progenitor Cells in Development and Regeneration of the Hair Follicle

149 citations , July 2014 in “Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine”

This article provides contact information for Bruce A. Morgan and features no new research findings.

research Tenascin-C and Tenascin-W in Whisker Follicle Stem Cell Niches: Possible Roles in Regulating Stem Cell Proliferation and Migration

25 citations , January 2013 in “Journal of Cell Science”

This study suggests that glycoproteins tenascin-C and tenascin-W may influence the migration and proliferation of CD34-positive stem cells in mouse whisker follicles.

research Minoxidil Use in Dermatology, Side Effects, and Recent Patents

152 citations , April 2012 in “Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery”

This review describes minoxidil's hair regrowth mechanism and discusses dermatological applications, but reports no new clinical results, emphasizing the need for regular use and addressing allergic reactions.

research Review of Hair Follicle Dermal Cells

321 citations , December 2009 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

This review discusses the role of dermal cells in hair follicle regeneration and morphogenesis and highlights their potential therapeutic implications, but it reports no new empirical findings.

research The Hair Follicle as a Dynamic Mini-Organ

759 citations , February 2009 in “Current Biology”

This review summarizes fundamental concepts and recent advancements in hair follicle biology, including insights from mouse models into broader molecular and cellular processes relevant to regeneration and development.

Human Hair Growth Ex Vivo Is Correlated With In Vivo Hair Growth: Selective Categorization of Hair Follicles for More Reliable Hair Follicle Organ Culture

research Human Hair Growth Ex Vivo Is Correlated With In Vivo Hair Growth: Selective Categorization of Hair Follicles for More Reliable Hair Follicle Organ Culture

27 citations , November 2005 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

This study found that selecting human hair follicles at a defined anagen stage based on their in vivo growth rate leads to more consistent results in organ culture, with minoxidil significantly enhancing hair growth in these follicles.

research Cyclical Changes in Rat Vibrissa Follicles Maintained In Vitro

34 citations , December 2000 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This study observed that rat vibrissa hair follicles cultured in vitro showed morphological changes suggesting cyclical activity but remained blocked in the pro-anagen stage.