(Neuro-)endocrinology of epithelial hair follicle stem cells
June 2008
in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology”
TLDR Hormones and neuroendocrine factors control hair growth and color, and more research could lead to new hair treatment options.
The 2008 document reviews the complex hormonal and neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate hair follicle epithelial stem cells (HFeSCs), which are essential for hair growth and pigmentation. It emphasizes the need for more research to understand the specific endocrine controls of HFeSCs. The review discusses the roles of various hormones, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and neurotrophins in HFeSC biology, including glucocorticoids, vitamin D, and thymic hormones, and their potential impact on hair growth disorders. It also explores the expression of genes and gene products in HFeSCs, such as insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, which may influence hair follicle cycling and stem cell maintenance. The document suggests that further understanding of these mechanisms could lead to new treatments for hair-related conditions and contribute to regenerative medicine.
View this study on hal.science →
Cited in this study
research Complex Hair Cycle Domain Patterns and Regenerative Hair Waves in Living Rodents
Mice hair growth patterns get more complex with age and can change with events like pregnancy or injury.
research Stem Cells in the Hair Follicle and Interfollicular Epidermis of Mice following Topical Application of Fluocinolone Acetonide
Fluocinolone acetonide slows down hair follicle stem cells but speeds up skin cell growth in mice.
research Probing the Effects of Stress Mediators on the Human Hair Follicle
Stress-related substance P may lead to hair loss and negatively affect hair growth.
research Defining Hair Follicles in the Age of Stem Cell Bioengineering
The study found that bioengineered hair follicles work when using cells from the same species but have issues when combining human and mouse cells.
research Prostaglandin metabolism in human hair follicle
Human hair follicles can make and process prostaglandins, which may affect hair growth.
research Interactions of the Vitamin D Receptor with the Corepressor Hairless
Most Hairless gene mutations reduce its ability to work with the Vitamin D Receptor, which might explain a certain type of hair loss.
research Neuronal plasticity of the “brain–skin connection”: stress-triggered up-regulation of neuropeptides in dorsal root ganglia and skin via nerve growth factor-dependent pathways
Stress increases certain chemicals in the skin and nerves, which might worsen skin conditions.
research Hair follicle stem cells: Walking the maze
Hair follicle stem cells are key for hair and skin regeneration, can be reprogrammed, and have potential therapeutic uses, but also carry a risk of cancer.
research Human hair follicles are an extrarenal source and a nonhematopoietic target of erythropoietin
research Foot shock stress prolongs the telogen stage of the spontaneous hair cycle in a non‐depilated mouse model
Stress in mice delays hair growth and treatments blocking substance P can partly reverse this effect.
research Sexual Hormones in Human Skin
Human skin makes sexual hormones that affect hair growth, skin health, and healing; too much can cause acne and hair loss, while treatments can manage these conditions.
research Bone morphogenetic protein signaling regulates the size of hair follicles and modulates the expression of cell cycle-associated genes
BMP signaling controls hair follicle size and cell growth by affecting cell cycle genes.
research Hairless and Wnt Signaling: Allies in Epithelial Stem Cell Differentiation
The HR protein's role as a repressor is essential for controlling hair growth.
research Neuroimmunology of Stress: Skin Takes Center Stage
Stress can worsen skin and hair conditions by affecting the skin's immune response and hormone levels.
research The Hair Follicle as an Estrogen Target and Source
Estrogens significantly influence hair growth by interacting with receptors in hair follicles and may help regulate the hair growth cycle.
research The Critical Roles of Serum/Glucocorticoid-Regulated Kinase 3 (SGK3) in the Hair Follicle Morphogenesis and Homeostasis
SGK3 is essential for proper hair growth and health.
research Therapeutic strategies for treating hair loss
The conclusion is that we need more effective hair loss treatments than the current ones, and these could include new drugs, gene and stem cell therapy, hormones, and scalp cooling, but they all need thorough safety testing.
research Human Scalp Hair Follicles Are Both a Target and a Source of Prolactin, which Serves as an Autocrine and/or Paracrine Promoter of Apoptosis-Driven Hair Follicle Regression
Prolactin contributes to hair loss by promoting hair follicle shrinkage and cell death.
research The hair cycle
The document concludes that the hair cycle is a complex process involving growth, regression, and rest phases, regulated by various molecular signals.
research Development and progression of alopecia in the vitamin D receptor null mouse
Mice without the vitamin D receptor gene lose hair due to disrupted hair follicle cycles.
research Neuroimmunoendocrine circuitry of the ‘brain-skin connection’
Stress can worsen skin conditions and stop hair growth by affecting the body's stress response system.
research Characterization and isolation of stem cell-enriched human hair follicle bulge cells
Researchers successfully isolated and identified key markers of stem cell-enriched human hair follicle bulge cells.
research Hair growth inhibition by psychoemotional stress: a mouse model for neural mechanisms in hair growth control
Stress can stop hair growth in mice, and treatments can reverse this effect.
research Hair melanocytes as neuro-endocrine sensors—Pigments for our imagination
Hair melanocytes help the skin respond to stress and regulate hair pigmentation.
research Activin Controls Skin Morphogenesis and Wound Repair Predominantly via Stromal Cells and in a Concentration-Dependent Manner via Keratinocytes
Activin helps skin growth and healing mainly through stromal cells and affects keratinocytes based on its amount.
research Premature termination of hair follicle morphogenesis and accelerated hair follicle cycling in Iasi congenital atrichia (fzica) mice points to fuzzy as a key element of hair cycle control
The fuzzy gene is crucial for controlling hair growth cycles.
research Towards Dissecting the Pathogenesis of Retinoid-Induced Hair Loss: All-Trans Retinoic Acid Induces Premature Hair Follicle Regression (Catagen) by Upregulation of Transforming Growth Factor-β2 in the Dermal Papilla
All-trans retinoic acid causes hair loss by increasing TGF-β2 in hair follicle cells.
research A Hot New Twist to Hair Biology
Capsaicin, found in chili peppers, can slow down hair growth by affecting skin cells and hair follicles.
research Mast cell deficient and neurokinin-1 receptor knockout mice are protected from stress-induced hair growth inhibition
Certain mice without specific receptors or mast cells don't lose hair from stress.
research Hair Follicle Pigmentation
Hair color is determined by melanin produced and transferred in hair follicles.
research Molecular principles of hair follicle induction and morphogenesis
Hair follicle development is controlled by interactions between skin tissues and specific molecular signals.
research Neurogenic Inflammation in Stress-Induced Termination of Murine Hair Growth Is Promoted by Nerve Growth Factor
Stress increases a factor in mice that leads to hair loss, and blocking this factor may prevent it.
research Epithelial growth control by neurotrophins: leads and lessons from the hair follicle
Neurotrophins are important for hair growth and could help treat hair loss.
research Thymosin β4increases hair growth by activation of hair follicle stem cells
Thymosin β4 promotes hair growth by activating stem cells in hair follicles.
research The expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 in follicular dermal papillae correlates with therapeutic efficacy of finasteride in androgenetic alopecia
Higher IGF-1 levels in hair follicles link to better finasteride results for hair loss.
research The Distribution of Estrogen Receptor β Is Distinct to That of Estrogen Receptor α and the Androgen Receptor in Human Skin and the Pilosebaceous Unit
Estrogen Receptor ß (ERß) is the main hormone controller in human skin and hair follicles, not Estrogen Receptor α (ERα) or the Androgen Receptor (AR).
research Stress Inhibits Hair Growth in Mice by Induction of Premature Catagen Development and Deleterious Perifollicular Inflammatory Events via Neuropeptide Substance P-Dependent Pathways
Stress stops hair growth in mice by causing early hair growth phase end and harmful inflammation through a specific nerve-related pathway.
research Control of pelage hair follicle development and cycling by complex interactions between follistatin and activin
Follistatin helps hair growth and cycling, while activin prevents it.
research Androgen‐inducible TGF‐β1 from balding dermal papilla cells inhibits epithelial cell growth: a clue to understanding paradoxical effects of androgen on human hair growth
Androgens may cause hair loss by increasing TGF-beta1 from scalp cells, which inhibits hair cell growth.
research Indications for a brain‐hair follicle axis: inhibition of keratinocyte proliferation and up‐regulation of keratinocyte apoptosis in telogen hair follicles by stress and substance P
Stress can cause hair loss by negatively affecting hair follicles and this effect might be reversed with specific treatments.
research Atrichia Caused by Mutations in the Vitamin D Receptor Gene is a Phenocopy of Generalized Atrichia Caused by Mutations in the Hairless Gene
research Control of hair growth and follicle size by VEGF-mediated angiogenesis
VEGF helps hair grow and determines follicle size by increasing blood vessel growth.
research The Biology of Hair Follicles
Hair follicle biology advancements may lead to better hair growth disorder treatments.
research Hair growth-modulation by adrenergic drugs
Certain drugs can cause early hair growth in mice by affecting the nerves.
research A Murine Model for Inducing and Manipulating Hair Follicle Regression (Catagen): Effects of Dexamethasone and Cyclosporin A
Dexamethasone speeds up hair loss in mice, while cyclosporin A slows it down.