173 citations
,
September 2011 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” IL-6 contributes to hair loss by shortening the growth phase and causing hair follicles to regress.
60 citations
,
May 2014 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that caffeine enhanced hair growth and keratinocyte proliferation in human hair follicles, with female follicles showing greater sensitivity than male ones.
34 citations
,
March 2009 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” In this study, l-Ascorbic acid 2-phosphate was found to stimulate hair follicle growth in vitro by promoting IGF-1 expression via the PI3K pathway.
10 citations
,
January 2004 in “Dermatologic Surgery” This study found that storing hair follicle micrografts in HEPES-buffered DMEM with ACD inhibitors like aminoguanidine significantly increased hair shaft elongation compared to phosphate-buffered salt solution, suggesting improved viability for transplantation.
1 citations
,
September 2022 in “Journal of dermatological science” This study found that a combination of vitamins in hair care products promoted hair shaft elongation in a mouse model by activating the PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling pathway.
August 2026 in “Cell Communication and Signaling” This study found that intravenous administration of a shark-derived receptor antibody, 3P17, promoted hair growth in mice by increasing hair matrix cell proliferation and activating leptin-STAT3 signaling, with transdermal leptin delivery enhancing this effect through improved skin penetration.
February 2026 in “Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy” In this study, researchers developed EPO-derived peptides that enhanced hair growth by stimulating dermal papilla cells and increasing IGF-1 expression without triggering systemic erythropoietic effects in tested models, indicating a promising approach for treating hair loss.
April 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study found that dermal white adipose tissue surrounding human hair follicles enhances proliferation, pigmentation, and hair shaft elongation in an ex vivo setting.
January 2004 in “Dermatologic Surgery” This study found that storing hair micrografts in DMEM with apoptotic cell death inhibitors improved in vitro hair shaft elongation and reduced apoptosis, potentially enhancing micrograft transplantation outcomes.
5 citations
,
September 2015 in “PLoS ONE” This study demonstrated that Gelfoam® histoculture supports extensive growth of both hair shafts and sensory nerves from isolated mouse whisker follicles over prolonged periods.
64 citations
,
March 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) inhibited hair shaft elongation and induced premature catagen development in cultured human hair follicles, partially through transforming growth factor β2.
7 citations
,
January 2022 in “Molecules” This study found that tectoridin, an isoflavone from Rhizoma Belamcandae, may stimulate hair growth by activating Wnt signaling in human and mouse cell cultures.
489 citations
,
June 2005 in “The FASEB Journal” This study found that human scalp hair follicles can respond to corticotropin releasing hormone stimulation similarly to the classical HPA axis, including up-regulating cortisol production and activating neuroendocrine feedback loops.
208 citations
,
January 2013 in “Lab on a Chip” The researchers described a chip-based bioreactor platform for dynamic perfusion, which may enhance in vitro skin models by introducing mechanical shear stress and extending culture periods.
174 citations
,
April 2005 in “The American journal of pathology (Print)” This study found that TRPV1 activation in human scalp hair follicles inhibited hair shaft elongation, suppressed proliferation, and induced apoptosis, suggesting TRPV1 as a potential target for managing hair growth and epithelial disorders.
140 citations
,
December 1998 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Apoptosis in hair follicles varies by growth phase, with TGF-β possibly starting the catagen phase.
128 citations
,
March 2006 in “American Journal of Pathology” The study found that prolactin expressed in human scalp hair follicles acts as an autocrine modulator, inhibiting hair growth and promoting hair follicle regression, which may contribute to hair loss in hyper-prolactinemia patients.
81 citations
,
December 2009 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” This review discusses the paracrine effects of adipose tissue-derived stem cells on surrounding cells and tissues, noting their potential therapeutic benefits, but reports no new clinical results.
72 citations
,
October 2009 in “The FASEB journal” This study found that thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) acts as a potent stimulator of hair growth in human scalp hair follicles, promoting elongation and prolonging the anagen phase.
61 citations
,
July 2011 in “PLOS ONE” This study provides the first direct evidence that spermidine can stimulate hair growth and modulate human epithelial stem cell biology in cultured human hair follicles.
56 citations
,
August 1994 in “PubMed” This study found that prolactin and melatonin both stimulated hair shaft elongation in Cashmere goat hair follicles, with maximum growth observed at specific concentrations, although melatonin reduced follicle viability after 96 hours.
53 citations
,
January 2009 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” In this study, UVB irradiation of organ-cultured human anagen hair follicles in vitro reduced hair elongation and increased cell death, affecting hair growth and regulatory processes.
52 citations
,
September 2017 in “Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy” This review examines the effects of adipose-derived stem cells and their secreted factors on hair growth stimulation in laboratory and animal models, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents for hair loss treatment.
50 citations
,
May 2004 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft” This review discusses the role of estrogens in hair follicle cycling and the skin, highlighting the need for more research on estrogen signaling pathways and their interactions with other factors in hair biology.
39 citations
,
December 2011 in “PLoS ONE” This study reported that exposure to 1,763 MHz radiofrequency radiation stimulated hair growth in vitro by inducing insulin-like growth factor-1 expression in cultured human dermal papilla cells.
33 citations
,
January 2006 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” This article reviews the molecular interactions involved in hair follicle cycling and highlights the role of dermal papilla cells, but it presents no new research findings.
31 citations
,
February 2014 in “Journal of dermatological science” This study found that placental growth factor (PlGF) enhanced hair shaft elongation and accelerated hair follicle growth, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for alopecia.
29 citations
,
January 2016 in “Annals of dermatology/Annals of Dermatology” This study found that arachidonic acid may promote hair growth by enhancing dermal papilla cell function and stimulating the anagen phase in C57BL/6 mice.
26 citations
,
October 2007 in “Experimental Dermatology” This study found that l-carnitine stimulated hair growth in vitro by promoting proliferation and reducing apoptosis in human scalp hair follicles, suggesting potential as a treatment for hair loss.
22 citations
,
February 2017 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” This study suggests that icariin promotes hair follicle growth in mice by enhancing IGF-1 expression in dermal papilla cells.