Minoxidil Activates β-Catenin Pathway in Human Dermal Papilla Cells: A Possible Explanation for Its Anagen Prolongation Effect

The study found that minoxidil activates the β-catenin pathway in human dermal papilla cells, which may explain its ability to prolong the anagen (growth) phase of hair follicles. The researchers conducted experiments on cultured human dermal papilla cells and found that minoxidil increased the levels of β-catenin, a protein involved in hair growth regulation. They also found that inhibiting the β-catenin pathway blocked the anagen prolongation effect of minoxidil. The study suggests that the β-catenin pathway may be a target for developing new hair growth treatments.