Ultraviolet B Preconditioning Enhances the Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Via Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species

The 2013 study investigated the impact of low-dose ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation on adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and its potential to promote hair growth. Low-dose UVB preconditioning was found to enhance the survival, migration, and angiogenic differentiation of ASCs, as well as upregulate the expression of growth factors associated with hair regeneration. The study showed that UVB-preconditioned ASCs, when injected into mice, significantly induced the transition from the resting phase to the growth phase of hair, resulting in increased hair weight. Additionally, the study revealed that UVB treatment increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in ASCs, which was crucial for the stimulation of ASCs and their hair growth-promoting effects. The enzyme NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) was identified as a key player in ROS generation, and inhibiting ROS or silencing Nox4 reduced the UVB-induced effects. The study suggests that UVB preconditioning, possibly through the control of ROS generation, could be a novel method for enhancing the hair regenerative potential of ASCs. The number of mice used in the transplantation part of the study was 4, with 2 sites per mouse for each group.