The Molecular Mechanism Underlying the Proliferating and Preconditioning Effect of Vitamin C on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

The study from June 15, 2014, explored the impact of Vitamin C on the proliferation, survival, and hair growth-promoting abilities of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). Vitamin C was found to increase ASC survival and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, with the optimal concentration below 500 µM. The sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2) facilitated Vitamin C uptake, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was crucial for this effect. Vitamin C treatment upregulated genes associated with cell proliferation, including Fos, and enhanced the expression of various growth factors like HGF, IGFBP6, VEGF, bFGF, and KGF. These growth factors are known to support hair growth. In vivo experiments showed that Vitamin C-treated ASCs could accelerate the transition from the resting phase (telogen) to the growth phase (anagen) in mice, leading to increased hair weight and length. The study concluded that Vitamin C can improve the regenerative potential of ASCs, suggesting its use as a supplement for ASC cultivation and hair growth applications. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation funded by the Korean government and the Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project.