Squaric Acid Dibutylester Promotes Innate Immune-Driven Hair Growth with CD206+ Macrophage Accumulation in the Dermis

September 2025 in “ JID Innovations ”

Koichi Tomii, Madoka Ozawa, Yasuhiro Kanda, Daichi Kobayashi, Nan-Jun Li, Eiji Umemoto, Haruko Hayasaka, Michio Tomura, Arata Takeuchi, Riichiro Abe, Tomoya Katakai

squaric acid dibutylester SADBE alopecia areata CD206+ macrophages dermal papilla macrophages innate immune cells C3H/HeJ mice fluorescent immunostaining flow cytometry AA immune-driven hair growth

TLDR Squaric acid dibutylester promotes hair growth by activating immune cells, especially macrophages.

The study investigates the effects of squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) on hair growth in alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disorder causing hair loss. In C3H/HeJ mice, SADBE application led to hair growth by day 28 in AA lesions and by day 14 in healthy mice. The treatment resulted in a significant accumulation of macrophages in the dermis, particularly CD206<sup>+</sup>F4/80<sup>+</sup> cells near the dermal papilla, as observed through fluorescent immunostaining and flow cytometry. Macrophage depletion inhibited hair growth, indicating their crucial role. The study concludes that innate immune cells, especially macrophages, are key to SADBE-induced hair growth, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for AA.

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