Pyruvate Kinase M2 Promotes Hair Regeneration by Connecting Metabolic and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

The study investigated the role of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), a key enzyme in glycolysis, in hair regeneration. It was found that the activation of PKM2 with TEPP-46 enhanced hair re-growth and the proliferation of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) in mice. PKM2 expression was increased through the up-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is involved in hair regeneration. Furthermore, a combined treatment with KY19382, an activator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and TEPP-46 significantly enhanced hair re-growth and wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis. The results suggest that simultaneous activation of PKM2 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling could be a potential strategy for treating alopecia.