Category Archives: Dermal Sheath Cup Cells

Dermal Papilla Cells, Dermal Sheath Cup Cells, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injections and Hair Growth

40 Comments

Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University

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. In the past, Aderans (Japan) did the same with some success.

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.

Dermal Sheath Cup Cells, Shiseido

Shiseido Phase 3 Trial Results

40 Comments

I have covered Japanese cosmetics behemoth Shiseido for almost ten years across over a dozen posts. My last post about them became too confusing, as I was regularly appending it with brief new updates. I was awaiting the correct time to restart. This company also makes the popular Shiseido Adenovital Shampoo.

Shiseido’s work on a hair loss cure based on the injection of cultured autologous dermal sheath cup cells (DSCs) is promising and safe. While the company has no problems with fundraising, thay have had some issues with their partnership with Replicel (Canada). I will not repeat that story here, but readers can check out my past posts on those two companies for more details.

Shiseido Dermal Sheath Cup Cell Hair Growth.
Shiseido’s hair growth treatment with the injection of autologous dermal sheath cup cells. Includes work from Replicel.

Shiseido Phase III Study Results Published

Earlier this month, Shiseido released the results of its “Phase III equivalent” study. The actual work was published in “The Journal Of Dermatology” Volume 50, Issue 10, in December 2023. In that same second link above, it also says “First published: 26 September 2023”, which might mean date of original Japanese submission.

No-one seems to have noticed it on Reddit as far as I can tell. I only learnt about it due to someone e-mailing me and asking me to check the end of the first PubMed link above where it says: “Grants and funding: Shiseido Group.”

It is not surprising that this development went through without notice. For one, the title of the paper does not even mention Shiseido’s name:

“Efficacy of autologous dermal sheath cup cell transplantation in male and female pattern hair loss”.

Even causing more confusion is the fact that they call this a “Phase III equivalent clinical study.” And only 36 volunteers participated in this trial. Not even remotely close to what you expect in a proper large-sized Phase 3 trial. The Shiseido website’s Hair Regenerative Medicine page has no new updates either.

In any event, this is clearly Shiseido’s trial for its DSC injections. After culturing dermal sheath cup cells (the source of dermal papilla cells) from the scalp skin of the hair loss patient, they are implanted (injected) into the same patient’s balding scalp skin to rejuvenate damaged hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth.

Among the paper’s many co-authors are the renowned Shiseido-affiliated Dr. Ryoji Tsuboi and Dr. Manabu Ohyama. All of the co-authors are also associated with at least one of the folllowing four entities in Japan:

  1. Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo.
  2. Department of Dermatology, Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo.
  3. Department of Dermatology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo,.
  4. Regenerative Medicine Research & Business. Development Department, Yokohama.

Results

Keeping in mind the small size of the study, the results while positive, are a bit underwhelming. Thirty-six male and female participants with pattern hair loss (PHL) were injected with dermal sheath cup cells. These DSCs were harvested from non-affected occipital hair follicles twice in quarterly intervals.

On global photographic assessment, 30% of the participants showed improvement.

The phototricogram data analysis showed increases in the:

  • Cumulative hair diameter of 107.6 ± 152.6 μm/cm2. This was a +1.4% increase versus baseline.
  • Hair cross-sectional area of 3069.1 ± 10960.7 μm2 /cm2. This was a +3.4% increase versus baseline.
  • Mean hair diameter of 0.9 ± 0.9 μm. This was a +2.2% increase versus baseline.

The female and high terminal hair ratio groups achieved better outcomes. It is not clear if any new hair growth occurred from the above breakouts. But stronger and denser existing hair after 12  months is a positive. And could imply better future protection against dihydrotestosterone (DHT) spurred follicle miniaturization.

Another confusing statement:

Of the total participants, 62.9% noted some degree of improvement.

It seems like this 62.9% figure is based on patient feedback rather than any kind of measurement. And per the math, this would imply that 22 of 35 patients gave a positive response, while 1 dropped out before the 1-year mark.

I have not tried to find any long version of this report, as overall it leaves much to be desired. I hope a far lengthier Phase 3 clinical trial is still going on.

And I also hope that Shiseido will be able to remain fully transparent, in spite of any pending legal issues with Replicel.