Conventional and novel stem cell based therapies for androgenic alopecia
Stem Cells and Cloning: Advances and Applications
Dovepress
open access to scientific and medical research
REVIEW
Stem Cells and Cloning: Advances and Applications downloaded from https://www.dovepress.com/ by 98.0.17.93 on 24-May-2020
For personal use only.
Open Access Full Text Article
Conventional and novel stem cell based
therapies for androgenic alopecia
This article was published in the following Dove Press journal:
Stem Cells and Cloning: Advances and Applications
31 August 2017
Number of times this article has been viewed
Dodanim Talavera-Adame 1
Daniella Newman 2
Nathan Newman 1
1
American Advanced Medical Corp.
(Private Practice), Beverly Hills,
CA, 2 Western University of Health
Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA
Video abstract
Introduction
Point your SmartPhone at the code above. If you have a
QR code reader the video abstract will appear. Or use:
http://youtu.be/MoU6GAW9BRk
Correspondence: Nathan Newman
9301 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 303, Beverly
Hills, CA 90210, USA
Tel +1 310 273 3344
Fax +1 310 273 7651
Email
The prevalence of androgenic alopecia (AGA) increases with age, and is estimated
to affect about 80% of Caucasian men.1 Female AGA, also known as female pattern
hair loss, affects 32% of women in the ninth decade of life.2 The consumer market for
products that promote hair growth has been increasing dramatically.3 These products
promote hair regeneration based on the knowledge about the hair follicle (HF) cycle.4,5
However, in most cases, the mechanisms of action of these products are not well characterized and the results are variable or with undesirable side effects.6 At present, only
two treatments for AGA have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA): Minoxidil and Finasteride.7–10Although these medications have proved to be
effective in some cases, their use is limited by their side effects.11,12 With the emergence of stem cells (SCs), many mechanisms that lead to tissue regeneration have been
discovered.13 Hair regeneration has become one of the targets for SC technologies to
restore the hair in AGA.14 Several SC factors such as peptides exert essential signals
to promote hair regrowth.15,16 Some of these signals stimulate differentiation of SCs to
keratinocytes which are important for HF growth.17 Other signals can stimulate dermal
papilla cells (DPCs) that promote SC proliferation in the HF.18,19 In this review, we
describe HF characteristics and discuss different therapies used currently for AGA and
possible novel agents for hair regeneration. These therapies include FDA-approved
11
submit your manuscript | www.dovepress.com
Stem Cells and Cloning: Advances and Applications 2017:10 11–19
Dovepress
© 2017 Talavera-Adame et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.
php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work
you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For
permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php).
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/SCCAA.S138150
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
Abstract: The prevalence of androgenic alopecia (AGA) increases with age and it affects
both men and women. Patients diagnosed with AGA may experience decreased quality of life,
depression, and feel self-conscious. There are a variety of therapeutic options ranging from
prescription drugs to non-prescription medications. Currently, AGA involves an annual global
market revenue of US$4 billion and a growth rate of 1.8%, indicating a growing consumer
market. Although natural and synthetic ingredients can promote hair growth and, therefore, be
useful to treat AGA, some of them have important adverse effects and unknown mechanisms of
action that limit their use and benefits. Biologic factors that include signaling from stem cells,
dermal papilla cells, and platelet-rich plasma are some of the current therapeutic agents being
studied for hair restoration with milder side effects. However, most of the mechanisms exerted
by these factors in hair restoration are still being researched. In this review, we analyze the
therapeutic agents that have been used for AGA and emphasize the potential of new therapies
based on advances in stem cell technologies and regenerative medicine.
Keywords: stem cells, stem cell therapies, hair follicle, dermal papilla, androgenic alopecia,
laser, hair regeneration
Dovepress
Talavera-Adame et al
BMP receptor activation in DPCs similar to those signals
that promote survival of MSCs in human embryoid bodies
composed of multipotent cells.24,25 DPCs have been derived
from pluripotent SCs in an attempt to study their potential
for hair regeneration in vitro and in vivo.27 Together, dermal
blood vessels and DPCs orchestrate a suitable microenvironment for the growth and survival of HFSCs.28,29 Interestingly,
the expression of Forkhead box C1 regulates the quiescence
of HFSCs located in the bulge region (Figure 1).30 HFSCs
are quiescent during mid-anagen and maintain this stage
until the next hair cycle.29,30 However, during early anagen
stage, these cells undergo a short proliferative phase in which
they self-renew and produce new hair.30 Therefore, the bulge
region constitutes a SC niche that makes multiple signals
toward quiescence or proliferation stages.30–34 It is known
that fibroblasts and adipocyte signals are able to inhibit the
proliferation of HFSCs.34 Additionally, BMP6 and fibroblast
growth factor 18 (FGF18) from bulge cells exert inhibitory
effects on HFSC proliferation.34 Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
also inhibits HF growth.35 Agents that reduce DHT, such
as Finasteride, promote hair regrowth by inhibiting Type
II 5α-reductase.8,14,36 In contrast to these inhibitory effects,
DPCs located at the base of the HF provide activation signals (Figure 1).18,34 The crosstalk between DPCs and HFSCs
leads to inhibition of inhibitory effects with the resultant cell
HF and SC niche
The HF undergoes biologic changes from an actively growing stage (anagen) to a quiescent stage (telogen) with an
intermediate remodeling stage (catagen).4 HFSCs are located
in the bulge region of the follicle and they interact with mesenchymal SCs (MSCs) located in the dermal papilla (DP).18
These signal exchanges promote activation of some cellular
pathways that are essential for DPC growth, function, and
survival, such as the activation of Wnt signaling pathway.19–21
Other signals, such as those from endothelial cells (ECs)
located at the DP, are also essential for HF maintenance.22 EC
dysfunction that impairs adequate blood supply may limits
or inhibits hair growth.22 For instance, Minoxidil, a synthetic
age (...truncated)