Category Archives: Dermal Papilla Cells

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injections and Hair Growth

In 2015, I discussed new hair multiplication related collaborative work between the University of Manitoba (Canada — led by Dr. Malcolm Xing) and Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University (China). Researchers from the latter recently published two new hair related studies, one of which analyzes the results of Chinese clinical trials involving mesenchymal stem cell injections for hair growth.

Note that hair follicle derived mesenchymal stem cells (HF-MSCs) include both dermal papilla (DP) cells and dermal sheath (DS) cup cells. Mesenchymal stem cells can also be derived from: adult tissues (bone marrow, peripheral blood, adipose/fat and teeth); and neonatal-birth associated tissues (Wharton’s jelly, placenta, cord blood, umbilical cord and amniotic fluid).

In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells have been in the news a lot due to the rising popularity of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes in regenerative medicine applications.

Treating Androgenetic Alopecia with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injections

Recently, reader “Theo” sent me a link to a new November 2024 study from the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. It entails a superior method of isolating human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs).

More importantly, several of the co-authors of this study also co-authored a September 2024 study titled: “A Clinical Trial of Treating Androgenic Alopecia with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Suspension Derived from Autologous Hair Follicle.” This trial occurred at the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University (China). The link to the actual 50-person trial that ended in 2022 can be seen here.

Treating Androgenetic Alopecia with Stem Cell Injections
Treating Androgenetic Alopecia with Stem Cell Injections. Source: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, September 2024.

The results were encouraging, although the increasing hair count and hair thickening effects lasted for just 3 months. Note that at around 7 months, the treated group still had slightly higher terminal hair counts and mean hair diameters compared to when they started out. If this method is improved, a once-a-year injection session is totally fine by me.

“An increased proportion of terminal hair and hair shaft diameter was observed in the experimental group at 1 month. The effect lasted for 3 months. The hair-thickening effect of advanced miniaturized hair follicles with hair shaft diameter less than 60 µm was more notable than that for above 60 µm. No patient experienced any obvious side effects.”

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection Hair Growth
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection Hair Growth Increase. Source: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, September 2024.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection Hair Diameter Increase
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection Hair Diameter Increase. Source: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, September 2024.

They also include two images showing before and after (3 months) hair growth results. The left side in the below image is the before photos.

Before and After Stem Cell Hair Growth
Before and After Stem Cell Hair Growth. Source: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, September 2024.

Stem Cells and Hair Multiplication

This makes me even more positive about Shiseido’s dermal sheath cup cell hair multiplication procedure that was released in 2024. And perhaps HairClone will finally test its dermal papilla cell injection treatment on humans in the UK in 2025. Also of note, in 2024, Dr. Junji Fukuda of Fukuda Lab announced that “Dermal papilla cell transplantation is about to begin in Japan.“

And several South Korean hair loss companies could test this in humans in 2025 too. I would also never discount the cursed Aderans coming back from the dead a second time. And dying again.

Note that similar attempts have been done in animals and humans in the past. Further reading:

In my 2015 interview with Dr. Xing, he said that he had just returned from a trip to Nanfang Hospital and that:

“A team of more than 10 clinical doctors is working on hair loss in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital.”

It is always great to see more hair related research and clinical trials taking place in China. Within East Asia, the country has lagged Japan and South Korea in importance when it comes to hair research.

Oxytocin, Cinnamic Acid and Hair Growth

Update: October 14, 2024

Oxytocin Receptor Agonists

A third study in relation to oxytocin and hair growth has been published by the same Japanese team of Fukuda, Kageyama, Seo and Lan (h/t “Ben”). This one is titled: “Effects of oxytocin receptor agonists on hair growth promotion.”

The researchers findings from October 2023 (see next section) showed the hair growth promoting effects of oxytocin (in hair follicle organoids). However, the clinical use of oxytocin is difficult due to its rapid degradation in vivo and poor permeability due to a large molecular weight.

Looking for alternatives, in February 2024 (see bottom of this post), the Japanese team reported that cinnamic acid promoted hair growth via the activation of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) expression.

And now in October 2024, the researchers have found that oxytocin receptor agonists WAY267464 and LIT001 increased the expression of hair growth-related genes in dermal papilla cells. And they significantly promoted hair “follicle sprouting”. According to “Ben”, both WAY267464 and LIT001 are endogenous, already synthesized and purchasable.

April 16, 2024

Oxytocin and Hair Growth

In October 2023, Japanese researchers (led by Junji Fukuda and Tatsuto Kageyama) published an interesting paper that concluded that oxytocin has a positive effect on hair growth via upregulation of dermal papilla cell signature markers. These findings were later covered by a NHK News video report from Japan.

Oxytocin (OXT) is better known as the “love hormone”. It is produced and released by women during childbirth and lactation. It is also produced during skin stimulation, such as when hugging or getting a massage. OXT is also called the anti-stress hormone.

In this study, OXT treatment resulted in the upregulation of genes that were associated with hair growth promoting factors. These included VEGFA (a protein encoded by the VEGF gene), PDGFB, FGF7 and BMP2. This ultimately results in peg-like hair sprouting via the improved hair growth ability of dermal papilla cells.

Oxytocin Hair Growth
Oxytocin and Hair Growth. Source: Nature, 20 October, 2023. Fukuda et al.

Cinnamic Acid, Oxytocin Receptor Activation and Hair Growth

I was 50/50 about writing a post on oxytocin and hair growth. We have seen numerous such past unusual examples that ultimately lead to no actual hair loss products.

However, in February 2024, the same researchers from Japan published yet another study that found cinnamic acid to promote hair growth via the activation of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) expression. Cinnamon is officially known as Cinnamomum cassia, and cinnamic acid is a component of Cinnamomum cassia.

“Treatment with cinnamic acid led to upregulation of OXTR and trichogenic gene expression in human dermal papilla (DP) cells.”

Three people e-mailed me the story about these findings that was published on phy.org several weeks ago. And a few others also posted blog comments about this news. No-one seemed to connect both these Japanese studies if I recall correctly.

Cinnamic Acid Oxytocin Hair Growth
Cinnamic Acid, Oxytocin Receptor Activation and Hair Growth. Source: Nature, 27 February, 2024. Fukuda et al.

Note that cinnamic acid can also be derived naturally from a number of plants. The most famous being cinnamon, shown in the image above. Yet one more ingredient to add in the list of natural treatments for hair loss.

A 2012 study from Japan found that cinnamon extract promotes Type I collagen biosynthesis via the activation of IGF-I signaling in human dermal fibroblasts. Also from 2012, a study from Taiwan concluded that cinnamic aldehyde (a constituent of Cinnamomum cassia) has excellent anti-inflammatory properties.

A 2018 study from Taiwan found that Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira (COK) leaves caused dermal papilla cell proliferation and increased hair growth in mice.