The Success of Thread-Embedding Therapy in Generating Hair Regrowth in Mice Points to Its Possible Effect in Humans

The study from December 31, 2015, demonstrated that thread-embedding therapy (TET) significantly promoted hair regrowth in C57BL/6 mice by inducing the anagen phase of hair follicles and increasing cellular proliferation, as evidenced by the elevated expression of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). TET also regulated the expression of fibroblast growth factors FGF-7 and FGF-5, which are key in hair follicle development and the hair growth cycle. The effects of TET were comparable to those observed with minoxidil treatment, suggesting that TET could be a potential alternative therapy for alopecia. The study was funded by the Research Fund Program of the Research Institute for Basic Sciences at Pusan National University, Korea.