Particulate Matter Exposure Induces Maternal Scalp Hair Loss After Birth in C57/B6 Mouse via Alteration of Inflammatory and Apoptotic Pathways

May 2026 in “ Frontiers in Endocrinology ”

Gee Soo Jung, Min Jung Lee, Wooseok Im, Hyemin Park, Inha Lee, Jae Hoon Lee, Hyeno Ho Ku, Sang Eun Lee, SiHyun Cho, Young Sik Choi

Studysummary In a mouse model, this study found that exposure to PM2.5 leads to significant postpartum hair loss, apparent via morphological changes and elevated markers of inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis, potentially exacerbated by changes in hormone receptors and stem cell populations.

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This study demonstrates that exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) exacerbates postpartum hair loss in C57/B6 mice by altering inflammatory, apoptotic, and hormonal pathways. PM2.5 exposure led to structural changes in the scalp, including dermal thickening and follicular regression. Inflammatory markers such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were elevated, and apoptotic signaling was enhanced. Additionally, PM2.5 exposure reduced progesterone receptor expression and hair follicle stem cell markers, suggesting disrupted hormonal signaling and stem cell function. These findings highlight the specific vulnerability of postpartum mice to PM2.5-induced hair loss, which was not observed in non-pregnant mice.

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