March 2026 in “Molecules” In this laboratory study, researchers reported that Camellia sinensis seed flavonoids significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in UV-irradiated skin cells by modulating key signaling pathways, highlighting its potential as a skincare ingredient for anti-inflammatory and anti-photoaging benefits.
December 2025 in “Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy” This study found that Melamax®, originally developed as an eco-friendly hair dye, provides significant protection against ultraviolet-induced oxidative and inflammatory damage in keratinocytes by modulating gene expression and signaling pathways, highlighting its dual potential for cosmetic coloration and skin photoprotection.
1 citations
,
February 2023 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This study found that exogenous melatonin improved cashmere fiber quality and yield in goats by enhancing antioxidant capacity and reducing pro-aging cytokine expression in secondary hair follicles.
February 2025 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” In this study, maternal melatonin implantation in pregnant rabbits reduced hair follicle cell apoptosis and increased hair follicle density in their neonatal offspring, suggesting a beneficial impact on hair follicle development mediated through specific molecular pathways.
April 2026 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” In this study, Ageratum houstonianum ethanolic extract and its active component agerarin were found to promote hair growth and follicle elongation by increasing SCUBE3 expression via activation of MAPK–AP-1 signaling in human dermal papilla cells, suggesting potential therapeutic value for treating hair loss.
This study found that inhibiting AP-1 transcription factors in mice causes squamous tumors to transform into sebaceous tumors and regulates tumor cell lineage.
This study found that inhibiting AP-1 activity in mice can induce lineage transdifferentiation between squamous and sebaceous tumors, suggesting AP-1's role in maintaining tumor cell identity.
31 citations
,
January 2007 in “Journal of biological chemistry/The Journal of biological chemistry” This study found that c-Jun is essential for vitamin D receptor expression, and the vitamin D receptor inhibits c-Jun-dependent cell death through non-classical mechanisms independent of vitamin D3.
February 2025 in “Applied Sciences” This study found that extracts from heterotropic cultures of Scenedesmus deserticola JD052 enhanced hair-inductive properties in human dermal papilla cells more effectively than photoautotrophic extracts, likely through activation of AKT/β-catenin signaling, despite similar loliolide content.
August 2026 in “Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” This study highlights the potential of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to treat UV-induced skin damage by modulating key signaling pathways, though challenges like EV composition variability and skin barrier penetration remain, underscoring the need for further research into optimized delivery methods for effective therapies.
35 citations
,
June 2012 in “PloS one” This study suggests that Keratin 15 expression in stratified epithelia may be regulated by two distinct mechanisms involving PKC/AP-1 pathway for differentiation and FOXM1 for basal cells, challenging its reliability as a sole stem cell marker.
74 citations
,
September 2003 in “The Journal of Immunology” This study found that PKCα activation in transgenic mice induces keratinocyte apoptosis and mediates neutrophilic skin inflammation via different pathways, suggesting potential mechanisms for cutaneous inflammatory diseases.
July 2024 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Mechanical tension worsens keloid scars by activating inflammation and fibrosis pathways.
137 citations
,
January 2006 in “Frontiers in bioscience” This review discusses the role of corticotropin-releasing hormone in human skin, focusing on its regulation, receptors, and functions, and highlights parallels with the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis; it reports no new research findings.
21 citations
,
November 2023 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This ex vivo study reported that melatonin significantly improved certain aging biomarkers in aged human skin, including reduced mTORC1 activity, increased fibrillin-1, and enhanced collagen and elastic fiber organization, though other key biomarkers remained unchanged.
85 citations
,
September 2013 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This review evaluates existing research on Keratin 15 to assess its validity as a marker for epidermal stem cells, reporting no new results.
December 2025 in “Nature Communications” This study demonstrated that skin organoids derived from human stem cells can model cutaneous tuberculosis, revealing that fibrosis development in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected organoids is linked to the PI3K-AKT and AP1 pathways in fibroblasts, and suggesting the potential for antifibrotic treatment evaluation.
60 citations
,
October 2020 in “Nature Communications” This study found that small molecule AP-1 inhibitors may selectively target SMO inhibitor-resistant basal cell carcinoma cells characterized by specific markers, potentially enhancing combinatorial cancer therapies.
January 2026 in “Molecular Nutrition & Food Research” This study found that Gynostemma pentaphyllum hydrodistillate and Damulin B exert significant anti-photoaging effects in UVB-irradiated models by reducing oxidative stress, improving ECM integrity, and enhancing skin hydration and elasticity.
2 citations
,
August 2023 in “Ecotoxicology and environmental safety” This study found that vitamin A significantly enhanced the proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of rabbit dermal papilla cells under heat stress, likely by modulating miR-195/IGF1 and Wnt10b/β-catenin signaling pathways.
70 citations
,
August 2006 in “Cancer Research” This study found that inhibiting AP-1 activity in mice modified tumor development, leading to transdifferentiation between squamous and sebaceous tumors, with molecular analysis suggesting AP-1's role in maintaining tumor cell identity.
2 citations
,
November 2019 in “Cancer reports” This study concluded that the Wnt signaling pathway does not significantly influence human keratoacanthoma development, but the overexpression of Sox9 suggests alternate signaling involvement.
January 2026 in “Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark” This study reported that, in a laboratory setting, araliadiol derived from Centella asiatica activated antioxidant pathways, mitigating urban particulate matter-induced oxidative stress and skin damage.
16 citations
,
April 2021 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This study found that micro-current electrical stimulation may promote hair growth in human hair follicle-derived papilla cells and a mice model by enhancing cell proliferation, migration, and activating key growth pathways.
6 citations
,
September 2012 in “Clinical Interventions in Aging” This study found that honokiol inhibits enzymes related to testosterone degradation in vitro, suggesting its potential as a lead compound for developing antiaging bioactive ingredients for men.
March 2026 in “Trends in Sciences” This study developed a testosterone propionate-induced C57BL/6 mouse model of androgenetic alopecia, demonstrating that high-dose, prolonged testosterone administration inhibited hair regrowth and mirrored human AGA pathology, providing a useful platform for studying hair loss mechanisms and testing therapies targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
138 citations
,
April 2003 in “Carcinogenesis” This study found that 2-methoxyestradiol induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells by activating p53 through a pathway dependent on p38/JNK-mediated NFkappaB/AP-1 activation, with JNK-dependent Bcl-2 phosphorylation also playing a critical role.
37 citations
,
May 2018 in “Frontiers in physiology” This study identified key long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs involved in primary wool follicle induction in carpet wool sheep, emphasizing their roles in hair follicle development and skin processes.
May 2026 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This study suggests that hydroxytyrosol may influence inflammation and oxidative stress pathways in androgenetic alopecia, particularly through interaction with the PTGS2 gene, warranting further experimental validation.
May 2025 in “Science Advances” In this study, researchers reported that hair follicle stem cells maintain quiescence through a PIEZO1-dependent mechanism that senses mechanical forces and translates them into localized calcium influx, involving a transcriptional network that regulates cell adhesion and cytoskeleton-related genes.