From a Stem-Cell-Centered to a Niche-Centered View: The Core Role of Collagen Networks in Hair Loss and Hair Follicle Miniaturization

    May 2026 in “ Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology ”
    Zhounan Jiang, Ye Xu, Yu Lou
    Studysummary In this study, researchers suggest that hair follicle miniaturization in conditions like androgenetic alopecia may result from impaired conversion of quiescent stem cells to progenitor cells, influenced by the follicular niche, its collagen network, and various mechanical constraints.
    Automatically generated from the study's abstract, not written by a person, and not a review of the full paper. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Read the original study, and consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    Read the full study on frontiersin.org →
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study 71

    1. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals Hair Growth Retardation Mediated by Aberrant Connective Tissue Sheath Contraction in Male Androgenetic Alopecia Nature Communications · 2026
    2. Consensus Recommendations for the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia in Egypt: A Modified Delphi Study Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology · 2025
    3. Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Management of Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Evidence Dermatology and Therapy · 2025
    4. Hair Regeneration: Mechano-Activation and Related Therapeutic Approaches PubMed · 2025
    5. Strength And Tenderness: Fibronectin Joins Hair Follicle Stem Cell Niche Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2025
    6. Androgenetic Alopecia: An Update on Pathogenesis and Pharmacological Treatment Drug Design Development and Therapy · 2025
    7. Frontiers in the Physiology of Male Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia: Beyond the Androgen Horizon Physiological Reviews · 2025
    8. Dermal Papilla Cells-Conditioned Medium Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced Senescence Via Ferroptosis Inhibition Scientific Reports · 2025
    9. CXCL12 Drives Reversible Fibroimmune Remodeling in Androgenetic Alopecia Revealed by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2025
    10. Validating Hair Diameter Diversity in Androgenetic Alopecia via Hair Diameter Distribution Analysis Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2025
    11. Regenerative Hair Pigmentation via Skin Organoids: Adaptive Patterning Mediated by Collagen VI and Semaphorin 3C Advanced Science · 2025
    12. Progenitor Cell Dynamics in Androgenetic Alopecia: Insights from Spatially Resolved Transcriptomics International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2025
    13. Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Hair Follicle Regeneration and Potential Therapeutic Strategies Stem Cell Research & Therapy · 2025
    14. Piezo1-Mediated Calcium Signaling Reinforces Mechanical Properties Of Hair Follicle Stem Cells To Promote Quiescence Science Advances · 2025
    15. Epithelial Fibronectin Meshwork Controls Skin Regeneration Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2025
    16. Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Combined Microneedling Therapy Versus Topical Minoxidil in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Archives of Dermatological Research · 2025
    17. An EGFP-Col4a2 Mouse Model Reveals Basement Membrane Dynamics Underlying Hair Follicle Morphogenesis The Journal of Cell Biology · 2024
    18. Dynamic duo: Cell–extracellular matrix interactions in hair follicle development and regeneration Developmental Biology · 2024
    19. Oxidative Stress in Hair Follicle Development and Hair Growth: Signaling Pathways, Intervening Mechanisms and Potential of Natural Antioxidants Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine · 2024
    20. Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Its Interplay with TGF-β and Notch Signaling Pathways for the Treatment of Chronic Wounds Cell Communication and Signaling · 2024
    21. Hair Product Allergy: A Review of Epidemiology and Management Curēus · 2024
    22. Interleukin-15 Is a Hair Follicle Immune Privilege Guardian Journal of Autoimmunity · 2024
    23. Pilose Antler Extract Promotes Hair Growth in Androgenic Alopecia Mice by Promoting the Initial Anagen Phase Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy · 2024
    24. Trichoscopy of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review Journal of clinical medicine · 2024
    25. Divergent Progression Pathways in Male Androgenetic Alopecia and Female Pattern Hair Loss: Trichoscopic Perspectives Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2024
    26. Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms of Stem Cell Dynamics in Hair Follicle Regeneration 2024
    27. MTurq2-Col4a1 Mouse Model Allows for Live Visualization of Mammalian Basement Membrane Development ˜The œjournal of cell biology/˜The œJournal of cell biology · 2023
    28. Local and Systemic Mechanisms That Control the Hair Follicle Stem Cell Niche Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology · 2023
    29. Non-Invasive Assessment of Hair Regeneration in Androgenetic Alopecia Mice In Vivo Using Two-Photon and Second Harmonic Generation Imaging Biomedical Optics Express · 2023
    30. The Dermatoscope in the Hair Clinic: Trichoscopy of Scarring and Nonscarring Alopecia Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2023
    31. Androgenetic Alopecia: An Update JAAD International · 2023
    32. Organ Function Is Preserved Despite Reorganization of Niche Architecture in the Hair Follicle Cell stem cell · 2023
    33. MicroRNA-205 Promotes Hair Regeneration by Modulating Mechanical Properties of Hair Follicle Stem Cells Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2023
    34. Perifollicular Microscarring in Alopecia Areata and Pattern Hair Loss American Journal of Dermatopathology · 2023
    35. Aging of Hair Follicle Stem Cells and Their Niches Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · 2022
    36. Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia Using PRP to Target Dysregulated Mechanisms and Pathways Frontiers in Medicine · 2022
    37. Targeting the Stem Cell Niche: Role of Collagen XVII in Skin Aging and Wound Repair Theranostics · 2022
    38. Microneedling and Its Use in Hair Loss Disorders: A Systematic Review Dermatology and therapy · 2021
    39. Editorial: Hair Follicle Stem Cell Regeneration in Aging Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · 2021
    40. Treatment Options for Androgenetic Alopecia: Efficacy, Side Effects, Compliance, Financial Considerations, and Ethics Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2021
    41. Perifollicular Inflammation and Follicular Spongiosis in Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2021
    42. Symmetry Breaking of Tissue Mechanics in Wound-Induced Hair Follicle Regeneration of Laboratory and Spiny Mice Nature Communications · 2021
    43. Hair Follicle Stem Cells as a Skin-Organizing Signaling Center During Adult Homeostasis The EMBO Journal · 2021
    44. Corticosterone Inhibits GAS6 to Govern Hair Follicle Stem-Cell Quiescence Nature · 2021
    45. Association of Fibrosis in the Bulge Portion with Hair Follicle Miniaturization in Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2021
    46. Trichoscopic Findings in Androgenetic Alopecia Medicinski arhiv · 2021
    47. Pattern Hair Loss: Assessment of Microinflammation in Miniaturized and Terminal Hair Follicles Through Horizontal Histologic Sections Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2020
    48. Female Pattern Hair Loss: An Update Indian Dermatology Online Journal · 2020
    49. Pattern Hair Loss: Assessment of Inflammation and Fibrosis on Histologic Sections Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2019
    50. Telogen Effluvium: A Comprehensive Review Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology · 2019
    51. Extracellular Matrix as a Regulator of Epidermal Stem Cell Fate International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2018
    52. Adverse Sexual Effects of Treatment with Finasteride or Dutasteride for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Acta dermato-venereologica · 2018
    53. Type XVII Collagen Coordinates Proliferation in the Interfollicular Epidermis eLife · 2017
    54. Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases in the Hair Cycle Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine · 2016
    55. Hair Follicle Aging Is Driven by Transepidermal Elimination of Stem Cells via COL17A1 Proteolysis Science · 2016
    56. Lack of Collagen VI Promotes Wound-Induced Hair Growth Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2015
    57. Scalp Dermatoscopic Findings in Androgenetic Alopecia and Their Relations with Disease Severity Annals of Dermatology · 2014
    58. Microenvironmental Reprogramming by Three-Dimensional Culture Enables Dermal Papilla Cells to Induce De Novo Human Hair-Follicle Growth Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2013
    59. Dermal Papilla Cell Number Specifies Hair Size, Shape, and Cycling, and Its Reduction Causes Follicular Decline Development · 2013
    60. Human Hair Follicle Stem/Progenitor Cells Express Hypoxia Markers Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2013
    61. Live Imaging of Stem Cell and Progeny Behavior in Physiological Hair-Follicle Regeneration Nature · 2012
    62. Cross-Section Trichometry: A Clinical Tool for Assessing the Progression and Treatment Response of Alopecia International journal of trichology · 2012
    63. Bald Scalp in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Retains Hair Follicle Stem Cells but Lacks CD200-Rich and CD34-Positive Hair Follicle Progenitor Cells Journal of Clinical Investigation · 2011
    64. Basement Membrane Changes in Lichen Planopilaris Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · 2009
    65. Androgenetic Alopecia in Males: A Histopathological and Ultrastructural Study Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2009
    66. Dihydrotestosterone-Inducible Dickkopf 1 from Balding Dermal Papilla Cells Causes Apoptosis in Follicular Keratinocytes Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2007
    67. Perifollicular Fibrosis: Pathogenetic Role in Androgenetic Alopecia Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin · 2006
    68. The Reliability of Horizontally Sectioned Scalp Biopsies in the Diagnosis of Chronic Diffuse Telogen Hair Loss in Women Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2004
    69. Minoxidil: Mechanisms of Action on Hair Growth British Journal of Dermatology · 2004
    70. Morphological Approach to Hair Disorders Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings · 2003
    71. 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 ˜The œFASEB journal · 2002