Modulation of Hair Growth with Small Molecule Agonists of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

The 2005 study explored the potential of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway agonists to stimulate hair growth. It was found that a topical application of Hh-agonist could induce the growth phase in mouse hair follicles without affecting epidermal proliferation, differentiation, or the expression of endogenous Hh-signaling components. The Hh-agonist also activated the Hh pathway in human scalp tissue in vitro. Long-term treatment with Hh-agonist did not result in skin abnormalities after approximately one year. These findings suggest that Hh-agonists could be a viable treatment for hair loss conditions like androgenetic alopecia, as they can promote hair growth without altering the normal hair cycle or causing long-term skin issues. However, the number of mice or human samples used in the study was not specified, and further in vivo studies were recommended for a better understanding of the physiological response in human scalp.