Synergistic Effect of Electrical and Minoxidil Stimulation on the Growth Promotion of Human Dermal Papilla Cells

The study investigated the combined effect of electrical stimulation (ES) and minoxidil (MXD) on the proliferation of cultured human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs). The results showed that the combination of 8 V-1 MHz ES and MXD treatment significantly promoted hDPC proliferation compared to control, ES alone, or MXD alone. This effect was associated with increased expression of Ki-67 and β-catenin, as well as enhanced activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. However, there were no significant differences in phosphorylated ERK and AKT levels among the groups. The study concluded that ES combined with MXD had a synergistic effect on hDPC proliferation, potentially through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.