26 citations,
June 2003 in “PubMed” The study investigated the effects of TPA-stimulated polyamine biosynthesis on metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (mSCC) development in protein kinase C epsilon (PKC epsilon) transgenic mice. It was found that TPA treatment significantly increased epidermal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and putrescine levels in these mice compared to wild-type littermates. The development of mSCC was completely prevented by administering alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an ODC inhibitor, in the drinking water during TPA promotion. However, this treatment resulted in marked hair loss and a decrease in intact hair follicles in the transgenic mice. The findings suggested a link between TPA-induced ODC activity, putrescine accumulation, hair follicle maintenance, and mSCC development, with the observed hair loss being a novel side effect not previously reported in other cancer prevention models.
28 citations,
July 2008 in “Developmental Biology” Smad4 is important for healthy hair follicles because it helps produce a protein needed for hair to stick together and grow.
10 citations,
October 2021 in “Animal nutrition” Vitamin B6 helps increase hair growth and density in rabbits by affecting certain cell signaling pathways.
2 citations,
April 2019 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Gasdermin A3 causes hair follicle stem cells to activate too early, leading to hair loss.
October 2023 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” A protein called EGFR protects hair follicle stem cells, and when it's disrupted, hair follicles can be damaged, but blocking certain pathways can restore hair growth.