Melatonin Promotes Hair Regeneration by Modulating the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

The study found that melatonin (MLT) significantly promotes hair regeneration in mice by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. MLT treatment accelerated the transition of hair follicles from the telogen to the anagen phase, leading to increased hair growth. This effect was confirmed through RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, and gene expression analyses, which showed up-regulation of key proteins and Wnt ligands in hair follicle stem cells and dermal papillae cells. The use of MLT receptor antagonists reduced hair growth, underscoring the role of MLT receptors. These findings suggest that MLT could be a potential therapeutic agent for hair loss by enhancing hair growth through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.