Keep Quiet—How Stress Regulates Hair Follicle Stem Cells

    October 2021 in “ Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy ”
    Sven R Quist, Jennifer Quist
    Image of study
    TLDR Stress hormone corticosterone suppresses hair growth by affecting stem cell activity and Gas6 protein expression.
    The study by Choi et al. published in Nature demonstrated that corticosterone, a stress hormone in mice equivalent to human cortisol, regulates the activity of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) by controlling the gene expression of Gas6. The researchers found that chronic stress keeps HFSCs in a quiescent state, leading to prolonged resting phases of hair follicles and potential hair loss. This was observed in various mouse models, where increased levels of corticosterone resulted in longer resting phases, which could be reversed by removing the adrenal glands. The study also identified the Growth Arrest Specific Protein 6 (Gas6) as a stress-sensitive regulator of hair growth. High levels of corticosterone were found to inhibit Gas6 expression in dermal papilla cells, suggesting that stress regulates HFSC activity by suppressing Gas6. This research provides new insights into the impact of stress on hair growth and loss, highlighting the role of corticosterone and Gas6 in the regulation of HFSCs.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    3 / 3 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 30 results

      community Trying to understand finasteride side effects and post finasteride syndrome

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  74 upvotes 4 years ago
      The conversation discusses the side effects of finasteride, including low libido and erectile dysfunction, and the possibility of these effects being permanent, known as post-finasteride syndrome (PFS). Some users report personal experiences with PFS and debate whether the condition is real, with varying opinions on the reversibility of side effects and the role of individual biology.

      community DHT levels after 4 weeks of Fina and 8 weeks of Fina + 4 weeks of Duta

      in Update  36 upvotes 5 years ago
      The user reported early stage diffuse hair thinning and increased DHT levels after 4 weeks on Finasteride and 8 weeks on Finasteride plus 4 weeks on Dutasteride, despite the medications being authentic and stored properly. They are considering increasing their Dutasteride dosage due to the lack of side effects and are unsure if the treatment is helping their hair.

      community Betnovate Scalp for hair loss?

      in Product  2 upvotes 1 year ago
      A dermatologist prescribed Betnovate scalp, a corticosteroid, for a 21-year-old male's hair loss due to DHT. The individual is considering using Nizoral shampoo, topical finasteride, a derma roller, and minoxidil, but is unsure about the effectiveness of two other products suggested by the dermatologist.

      community formula 82D for diffuse androgenic alopecia (DUPA)

      in Is this regrowth?  14 upvotes 1 week ago
      The user is experiencing diffuse androgenic alopecia and is trying various treatments, including 5mg finasteride, loniten, and Formula 82D, which contains dutasteride, a steroid, and tretinoin. They report potential regrowth with Formula 82D, despite previous treatments being ineffective.

    Related Research

    3 / 3 results