Stem Cell Factor/c-Kit Signaling in Normal and Androgenetic Alopecia Hair Follicles

April 2008 in “ Journal of Endocrinology ”

Valerie A. Randall, Tracey J. Jenner, Nigel A. Hibberts, Isabel O De Oliveira, Tayyebeh Vafaee

TLDR SCF and c-Kit decrease in AGA hair follicles, possibly affecting hair pigmentation and growth.

This 15-year-old scientific paper explores the role of stem cell factor (SCF) and c-Kit signaling in hair follicles, specifically in relation to hair pigmentation in normal and androgenetic alopecia (AGA) follicles. The study found that SCF and c-Kit expression were decreased in AGA hair follicles compared to normal hair follicles, suggesting that this signaling pathway may play a role in the pathogenesis of AGA. They also suggest that targeting this pathway may be a potential therapeutic approach for AGA. The study was conducted on 23 individuals.

View this study on joe.bioscientifica.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Cited in this study

22 / 22 results

research Hormonal Regulation of Hair Follicles Exhibits a Biological Paradox

98 citations , April 2007 in “Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology”

Androgens can both stimulate and cause hair loss, and understanding their effects is key to treating hair disorders.

research The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

215 citations , December 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride more effective for hair growth, but has more side effects than finasteride.

research Interaction Between Stem Cell Factor and Endothelin-1: Effects on Melanogenesis in Human Skin Xenografts

27 citations , November 2006 in “Laboratory Investigation”

SCF and ET-1 together significantly increase skin pigmentation and melanin production.

research Towards A Free Radical Theory Of Graying: Melanocyte Apoptosis In The Aging Human Hair Follicle As An Indicator Of Oxidative Stress Induced Tissue Damage

210 citations , May 2006 in “The FASEB journal”

Oxidative stress causes hair to gray by damaging and killing pigment cells.

research Biological Characterization of Cultured Dermal Papilla Cells and Hair Follicle Regeneration In Vitro and In Vivo

24 citations , February 2006 in “Chinese Medical Journal”

Cultured dermal papilla cells can regenerate hair follicles and sustain hair growth.

research Changes in Different Melanocyte Populations During Hair Follicle Involution (Catagen)

40 citations , December 2005 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Different melanocyte types in hair follicles either survive or die during the catagen phase.

research Hair Melanocytes as Neuro-Endocrine Sensors—Pigments for Our Imagination

43 citations , November 2005 in “Molecular and cellular endocrinology”

Hair melanocytes help the skin respond to stress and regulate hair pigmentation.

research Melanocyte Stem Cell Maintenance and Hair Graying

105 citations , April 2005 in “Cell”

Hair graying happens because certain cells aren't maintained properly.

research Cultured Human and Rat Tooth Papilla Cells Induce Hair Follicle Regeneration and Fiber Growth

48 citations , December 2004 in “Differentiation”

Tooth papilla cells can help regenerate hair follicles and grow hair.

research Hair Depigmentation Is a Biological Readout for Pharmacological Inhibition of KIT in Mice and Humans

73 citations , September 2003 in “Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics”

Hair color loss can indicate the effectiveness of a drug targeting the KIT protein in mice and humans.

research 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

190 citations , October 2002 in “The FASEB journal”

Androgens may cause hair loss by increasing TGF-beta1 from scalp cells, which inhibits hair cell growth.

research Melanocyte Subpopulation Turnover During the Human Hair Cycle: An Immunohistochemical Study

86 citations , August 2000 in “Pigment cell research”

Melanocyte activity in hair follicles is linked to the hair growth cycle, being active in growth phases and inactive in rest phases.

research Expression of mRNA for androgen receptor, 5alpha-reductase and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human dermal papilla cells

63 citations , November 1999 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

Hair sensitivity to androgens is partly controlled by specific enzyme expressions in different hair areas.

research The mRNA for Protease Nexin-1 is Expressed in Human Dermal Papilla Cells and its Level is Affected by Androgen

27 citations , September 1999 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Human skin cells contain Protease Nexin-1, and male hormones can decrease its levels, potentially affecting hair growth.

research Androgen-Dependent Beard Dermal Papilla Cells Secrete Autocrine Growth Factor(s) in Response to Testosterone Unlike Scalp Cells

51 citations , November 1998 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Beard cells, unlike scalp cells, produce growth factors in response to testosterone, which may explain differences in hair growth.

research Single hair grafting for the treatment of vitiligo

69 citations , April 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Single hair grafting is effective for treating small, localized patches of vitiligo.

research Balding hair follicle dermal papilla cells contain higher levels of androgen receptors than those from non-balding scalp

227 citations , January 1998 in “Journal of Endocrinology”

Cells from balding scalps have more androgen receptors than cells from non-balding scalps.

research Inhibition of Hair Growth by Testosterone in the Presence of Dermal Papilla Cells from the Frontal Bald Scalp of the Postpubertal Stumptailed Macaque¹

33 citations , January 1997 in “Endocrinology”

Testosterone can slow down hair growth when combined with certain cells from bald scalps, and this effect can be blocked by an androgen receptor blocker.

research A comparison of the culture and growth of dermal papilla cells from hair follicles from non-balding and balding (androgenetic alopecia) scalp

19 citations , March 1996 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Balding hair follicle cells are smaller, grow less well, and need more effort to culture than non-balding cells.

research Androgens and human hair growth

157 citations , April 1994 in “Clinical endocrinology”

Androgens can cause hair growth in some areas and hair loss on the scalp.

research Cultured dermal papilla cells from androgen-dependent human hair follicles (e.g. beard) contain more androgen receptors than those from non-balding areas of scalp

124 citations , April 1992 in “Journal of Endocrinology/Journal of endocrinology”

Beard hair follicles have more androgen receptors than non-balding scalp hair follicles.

research Androgens and the hair follicle. Cultured human dermal papilla cells as a model system.

22 citations , December 1991 in “PubMed”

7 / 7 results

research Upregulation of Interfollicular Epidermal and Hair Infundibulum β-Catenin Expression in Gsdma3 Mutant Mice

11 citations , January 2013 in “Acta histochemica”

Mice with a Gsdma3 gene mutation have thicker skin and longer hair follicle openings due to increased β-catenin levels.

research Aging of the Hair Follicle Pigmentation System

75 citations , January 2009 in “International journal of trichology”

Hair grays due to oxidative stress and fewer functioning melanocytes.

research An estrogen receptor pathway regulates the telogen-anagen hair follicle transition and influences epidermal cell proliferation.

154 citations , October 1996 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

Estrogen affects hair growth and skin cell multiplication.

research Hair anatomy for the clinician

139 citations , July 1991 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Understanding hair follicle anatomy helps diagnose hair disorders.