VEGF Induces Proliferation of Human Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells Through VEGFR-2-Mediated Activation of ERK

The study demonstrated that Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) induced the proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla (DP) cells through the VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2)-mediated activation of the ERK signaling pathway. The expression of VEGFR-2 on DP cells was confirmed using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, and its localization was identified by immunofluorescence. Exogenous VEGF165 was shown to stimulate DP cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, an effect that was inhibited by a VEGFR-2 neutralizing antibody and an ERK inhibitor. The study concluded that VEGFR-2 is expressed on primary human hair follicle DP cells, and VEGF promotes their proliferation via the VEGFR-2/ERK pathway, without affecting the p38, JNK, or AKT signaling pathways.