Outer Root Sheath Cells Secrete Oxytocin for Hair Growth Promotion and Stem Cell Proliferation

March 2026 in “ Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering ”

Tatsuto Kageyama, Ting Sun, Lei Yan, Jieun Seo, Sayuri Hamano, Ayaka Nanmo, Junji Fukuda

outer root sheath cells oxytocin hair follicles dermal papilla cells stem cell proliferation hair growth hair follicle homeostasis

TLDR Oxytocin from hair cells helps hair growth and stem cell increase.

This study reveals that outer root sheath cells (ORSCs) in hair follicles produce oxytocin, which enhances the hair growth-promoting potential of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and promotes stem cell proliferation within ORSCs. The findings suggest that oxytocin plays a dual role in hair growth and stem cell proliferation, offering potential insights for developing effective hair loss treatments. The study involved staining patient-derived human hair follicles and demonstrated higher oxytocin expression in ORSCs compared to DPCs, with a secretion rate of 22 pg/mL/d. These results contribute to understanding hair follicle homeostasis mechanisms.

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