Janus Kinase Inhibitor Increases Hair Growth by Increasing Beta-Catenin Activity in Outer Root Sheath Cells
TLDR JAK inhibitors help hair growth by boosting beta-catenin activity in hair root cells.
This study explores the role of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in promoting hair growth by increasing β-catenin activity in human primary outer root sheath (ORS) cells, which is crucial for hair follicle development. The research found that IFNγ treatment reduced β-catenin levels and increased Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) expression in ORS cells. However, JAK inhibitors such as itacitinib and CEP-33779 counteracted these effects by increasing β-catenin levels in both the cytosol and nucleus, and enhancing its transcriptional activation in a dose-dependent manner. This suggests that JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitors not only mitigate inflammation but also directly promote hair growth by modulating β-catenin activity, offering a new therapeutic mechanism for treating severe alopecia areata (AA).
