TLDR Hair stem cell regeneration is controlled by signals that can explain different hair growth patterns and baldness.
The study from April 29, 2011, explored the regeneration of hair stem cells in mice and rabbits, focusing on the role of WNT and BMP signaling pathways. Researchers developed a cellular automaton model to simulate and predict hair follicle cycling patterns. They discovered that hair follicles cycle through growth and rest phases by responding to both intrinsic and extrinsic signals, with the WNT/BMP activator/inhibitor pair being crucial for mediating these interactions. Overexpression of Wnt7a in mice led to altered hair regeneration, such as shortened rest phases, while Wnt3a and Dkk1 beads demonstrated the ability to initiate or disrupt regenerative waves, respectively. In rabbits, hair follicle activations within compound follicles were tightly coupled, showing complex patterns. The study concluded that hair regeneration coordination across stem cell populations is achieved through signal integration, which is adaptable to various conditions and can explain differences in hair growth patterns across species, including the random and independent hair cycling in humans that may contribute to baldness in conditions like androgenic alopecia.
314 citations,
April 2010 in “Developmental Cell” β-catenin in the dermal papilla is crucial for normal hair growth and repair.
127 citations,
December 2007 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Mice hair growth patterns get more complex with age and can change with events like pregnancy or injury.
37 citations,
July 2005 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Short anagen syndrome involves a hair growth phase lasting 1.5 years.
1 citations,
February 2021 in “Cosmetics” Fagraea berteroana fruit extract may promote hair growth by affecting cell proliferation and hair growth pathways.
23 citations,
December 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology” Gene network oscillations inside hair stem cells are key for hair growth regulation and could help treat hair loss.
9 citations,
August 2018 in “Biomedical dermatology” A peptide called DPS-1 helps human scalp cells grow and stimulates hair growth in mice.
1 citations,
May 2017 in “InTech eBooks” Hair loss in Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is due to altered cell sensitivity to hormones, not increased hormone levels. Hair growth periods shorten over time, causing hair to become thinner and shorter. This is linked to miscommunication between cell pathways in hair follicles. There's also a change in gene expression related to blood vessels and cell growth in balding hair follicles. The exact molecular causes of AGA are still unclear.
42 citations,
January 2014 in “Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine” Hair growth is influenced by various body and external factors, and neighboring hairs communicate to synchronize regeneration.
3 citations,
December 2022 in “npj Regenerative Medicine” HSPGs help control stem cell behavior, affecting hair growth and offering a target for hair loss treatments.
