Valproic Acid Boosts Hair Follicle Stem Cell Resilience to Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation Through Autophagy Induction and AKT/mTOR Suppression

    December 2025 in “ Scientific Reports ”
    Fatemeh Keshavarzi, Mohammad Saied Salehi, Sareh Pandamooz, Sanaz Dastghaib, Morvarid Siri, Mehdi Dianatpour, Afshin Borhani‐Haghighi, Zohreh Mostafavi‐Pour, Pooneh Mokarram
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    TLDR Valproic acid helps hair follicle stem cells survive better in low oxygen and glucose conditions.
    This study explores the potential of valproic acid (VPA) to enhance the survival and migration of human hair follicle-derived stem cells (HFSCs) under ischemic-like conditions, which are typically challenging for stem cell therapies. By preconditioning HFSCs with VPA, researchers observed increased autophagic activity and suppression of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, leading to improved cell viability and migration capacity. The study highlights that these benefits are dependent on autophagy, as they were negated by an autophagy inhibitor. The findings suggest that VPA preconditioning could improve the effectiveness of stem cell therapies for ischemic stroke by enhancing stem cell resilience in hostile environments.
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