Flavonoids in safflower extract reduce cisplatin-induced damage to human follicle dermal papilla cells by inhibiting DNA damage and Rad17/Chk1/Cdc25C signaling

Background:Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used clinically for the treatment of various human cancers.Patients often reduce the use of cisplatin due to its side effects,which in turn affects its treatment.This study explored the mechanism of action of safflower extract as an adjuvant traditional Chinese medicine for chemotherapy.Methods:Primary human follicle dermal papilla cells(HFDPCs)were used as target cells for cisplatininduced damage to hair cells.Western blotting was used to investigate the molecular targets of cisplatin and safflower extract in causing HFDPCs damage.Cell survival and cell cycle were analyzed by mitochondrial staining reagent WST-1 and propidium iodide.Results:Cisplatin could reduce the viability of HFDPCs without causing cell death.Cisplatin increased the level of phospho-Rad17 in HFDPCs and activated the Chk1/Cdc25C signaling to reduce the expression of Cdc2 protein,thereby arresting the cells in the G2/M phase.The combination of safflower extract and the flavonoids could effectively inhibit the signal transduction of Rad17/Chk1/Cdc25 in cisplatin-treated cells and reduce the cell population in the G2/M phase.Finally,we also confirmed that safflower extract could effectively inhibit the damage to HFDPCs caused by cisplatin,mainly at the level of reducing the DNA damage caused by cisplatin.Conclusions:Safflower extract can be used as an adjuvant Chinese medicine for chemotherapy to reduce the damage caused by chemotherapy to normal hair follicle cells.

JAM-A facilitates hair follicle regeneration in alopecia areata through functioning as ceRNA to protect VCAN expression in dermal papilla cells

The dermal papilla cells in hair follicles function as critical regulators of hair growth.In particular,alopecia areata(AA)is closely related to the malfunctioning of the human dermal papilla cells(hDPCs).Thus,identifying the regulatory mechanism of hDPCs is important in inducing hair follicle(HF)regeneration in AA patients.Recently,growing evidence has indicated that 3 untranslated regions(3 UTR)of key genes may participate in the regulatory circuitry underlying cell differentiation and diseases through a socalled competing endogenous mechanism,but none have been reported in HF regeneration.Here,we demonstrate that the 3 UTR of junctional adhesion molecule A(JAM-A)could act as an essential competing endogenous RNA to maintain hDPCs function and promote HF regeneration in AA.We showed that the 3 UTR of JAM-A shares many microRNA(miRNA)response elements,especially miR-221–3p,with versican(VCAN)mRNA,and JAM-A 3 UTR could directly modulate the miRNA-mediated suppression of VCAN in self-renewing hDPCs.Furthermore,upregulated VCAN can in turn promote the expression level of JAM-A.Overall,we propose that JAM-A 3 UTR forms a feedback loop with VCAN and miR-221–3p to regulate hDPC maintenance,proliferation,and differentiation,which may lead to developing new therapies for hair loss.

Hair growth-promotion effects and antioxidant activity of the banana flower extract HappyAngel^(■):double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Banana flowers contain various bioactive components, including several antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is unclear whether they can reduce and prevent hair loss. This study examines the effect of banana flower extracts on preventing hair loss and strengthening hair roots. The banana flower extract(HappyAngel^(■))was used to treat human hair follicle dermal papilla cells(HFDPCs)and the expression of reactive oxygen species(ROS), dihydrotestosterone(DHT), and hair-related genes(SRD5A1, SRD5A2, AR, and KROX20)were monitored. Fifty subjects were divided into a placebo group and a banana flower group. The experimental group consumed banana flower extract daily for twelve weeks and then underwent hair testing, hair-related genes analysis, collection of hair loss, and questionnaires. The results showed that the banana flower extract significantly increased hair cell growth and decreased the expression of ROS, DHT, and hair follicle growth inhibition-related SRD5A1, SRD5A2, and AR genes, and significantly increased the expression of hair growth-related KROX20 gene in HFDPCs. Consuming banana flower extract for twelve weeks increased the hair root diameter and reduced hair loss and scalp redness compared to the placebo group. Thus, banana flower extract(HappyAngel^(■))can stimulate hair growth and inhibit the activation of hair loss genes.

Polyphenol-Rich Olive Mill Wastewater Extract and Its Potential Use in Hair Care Products

In this work, the influence of phenol-enriched olive mill wastewater (OMWW) extract on hair growth was investigated in vitro on human follicle dermal papilla cells. OMWW has already shown great potential for use in skincare products, and its high polyphenol content is predestined to have a positive effect on hair growth. The studies included caffeine, a positive modulator of hair growth, and dihydrotestosterone, which causes hair loss in vivo, as controls. The impact of the investigated compounds on hair growth was evaluated by studies on cell viability and proliferation, the release of growth factors (insulin-like growth factor-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor), and the reduction of reactive oxygen species formation. OMWW showed a positive influence on the proliferation of the human follicle dermal papilla cells. Moreover, the extract leads to a significantly increased secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1, and a considerable reduction in reactive oxygen species formation was observed. Overall, our results show that the investigated phenol-enriched OMWW extract is a promising ingredient for hair care to improve hair growth, prevent hair loss due to oxidative stress and maintain a healthy scalp.

Pyridoxine regulates hair follicle development via the PI3K/Akt, Wnt and Notch signalling pathways in rex rabbits

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pyridoxine on the development of hair follicles in Rex rabbits and the underlying molecular mechanism.Two hundred 3-month-old Rex rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups and fed diets supplemented with 0,5,10,20,or 40 mg/kg pyridoxine.The hair follicle density on the dorsal skin and the gene and protein expression levels of components of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3 K)/protein kinase B(PKB or Akt),Wnt,Notch and bone morphogenetic protein(BMP)signalling pathways were measured.In addition,free hair follicles were isolated from Rex rabbits and cultured with pyridoxine in vitro to measure hair shaft growth.Furthermore,dermal papilla cells(DPC)were isolated from the skin of Rex rabbits and cultured with pyridoxine in vitro to measure the gene and protein expression levels of components of the PI3 K/Akt,Wnt,Notch and BMP signalling pathways.The results showed that the addition of dietary pyridoxine significantly increased the total follicle density,secondary follicle density,and secondary-to-primary ratio(S/P,P<0.05),that the growth ratio of hair stems was promoted by pyridoxine in basic culture medium,and that the growth length of tentacle hair follicles cultured in the pyridoxine group was longer than that in the control group(P<0.05).In addition,pyridoxine changed the DPC cycle progression and promoted cell proliferation,and appropriate concentrations of pyridoxine(10 and 20μmol/L)significantly inhibited cell apoptosis(P<0.05).Pyridoxine significantly affected the gene expression of components of the PI3 K/Akt,Wnt and Notch signalling pathways in the skin and DPC of Rex rabbits(P<0.05),increased the levels of phosphorylated catenin beta 1(CTNNB1)and Akt,and decreased the level of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta(GSK-3β)(P<0.05).Therefore,the molecular mechanism by which pyridoxine promotes hair follicle density in Rex rabbits probably occurs through activation of the PI3 K/Akt,Wnt and Notch signalling pathways,prolonging hair follicle growth and delaying the onset of telogen.