Category Archives: Double Stranded RNA

Bimatoprost for Eyebrows, BiologicsMD, BMD-2341, Double Stranded RNA, FGF-9, George Cotsarelis, Joshua Sakon, Luis Garza, Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrix, Technion University

Brief Items of Interest, August 2015

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Hair loss news first:

— A very interesting radio interview with Dr. Luis Garza regarding his team’s latest groundbreaking findings on triggering organ and hair regeneration. See my recent post on those findings.

— On July 30, it was announced that the University of Arkansas (along with several other entities) was issued a patent for a new hair loss drug based on work done by Dr. Joshua Sakon and three others. The patent is titled “Fusion Proteins of Collagen Binding-Domain and Parathyroid Hormone.” Arkansas based BiologicsMD holds the exclusive license to this technology, and their related hair loss drug will be known as BMD-2341.

— Samumed is recruiting for a 50-person supplemental clinical trial for its SM04554.

— George Cotsarelis gets yet one more patent approved (this one related to FGF-9 and hair growth). Filed in October 2014 and approved in August 2015.

— For several months, Spencer (aka Spex) has been experimenting with using Bimatoprost on his previously sparse eyebrows. He uses the Lumigan brand that is designed to reduce high pressure in the eyes. He recently added the above page on his site, and it is well worth checking out the before and after photos on there. Many hair loss sufferers have been waiting for months to hear about the delayed results of the clinical trials of Bimatoprost when used on scalp hair. While I have been skeptical that the drug will do much beyond what Minoxidil already does for scalp hair, Spex’s eyebrow results are very encouraging. Bimatoprost, if approved for use on the scalp, will entail a drastically higher dosage compared to what Spex is using on his eyebrows.

— An optimistic conclusion from a molecular biologist: “In any case, I think that treatment for baldness is now a matter of quite a short period of time.” Article rambles a bit, perhaps because the writer is not a native English speaker.

— I am surprised that there has not been much new research coming from Israel when it comes to hair loss. The country has a booming start-up scene, and from my observations, Jewish people seem to suffer from baldness at an even higher rate than Caucasians (who in turn have much higher rates of baldness compared to Asians). In any case, this new 3D printed comb for hair loss project from Technion University in Israel seems interesting (you need to translate), although I would not be surprised if we never hear about it again. FYI — For any readers in Israel, here is an article from 2011 with names of local hair loss experts and clinics that you could consult.

— Some interesting thoughts on platelet-rich fibrin matrix from Dr. William Lindsey.

— In June, Dr. Alan Feller started a controversial thread on the HTN forum regarding strip (FUT) hair transplants still being more popular than FUE hair transplants. That thread has taken on a life of its own, and I only read it this month since I do not frequent those forums too often. Based on my own research, I do not believe that strip will remain very popular, and it already might be less popular than FUE considering that doctors can now just purchase the ARTAS robot and start practicing FUE with little past experience in doing so. In any case, Dr. Feller raises some interesting points in that thread, and I wonder if FUE transaction rates are really that high in the hands of experts?  If I was getting a hair transplant today, I would go for FUE.

— A very useful update from a Japanese resident regarding AAPE and HARG treatment in Japan.

— An interesting study (on mice), where pluripotent stem cells from whisker follicles differentiate and grow into new hair when transplanted to the spinal cord.

— Comedian Matt Lucas has suffered from alopecia universalis for most of his life. A nice story on him helping a young boy suffering from the same here.

— Somewhat related to the above, scientists use cells created from hair follicles to repair damaged nerves.

And now on to medical items of interest:

Things are getting creepier and creepier and at the same time evermore mind-boggling each month.

—Nearly complete brain developed in petri dish by Ohio State scientists. This was major news yesterday and today.

— United Therapeutics and genetically engineering pigs in order to transplant their organs into humans. I find it absolutely fascinating that you can insert human genes into animals and that scientists are able to increase the number that they can insert every year. [FYI — the founder and CEO of this company is the amazing MTF transsexual Martine Rothblatt, who also co-founded Sirius XM satellite radio and has a law degree].

— Young blood is what we all need.

— Body-hackers. Worth clicking just to see the image.

— A pro designer baby article worth a skim-through. The Chinese will probably stab at this first.

— A list of the top 11 3D-Bioprinting companies.

Double Stranded RNA, dsRNA, Garza Laboratory, IL6, Johns Hopkins University, Luis Garza, Shh, STAT3, TLR3, Wnt/Beta-Catenin

Dr. Luis Garza of Johns Hopkins University Publishes New Findings

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Due to a proliferation of repetitive negative and pessimistic comments from some blog readers recently, I will start of this post with two caveats that need not be repeated in the comments via sarcastic one liners as has become the norm lately:-(

  1. The below findings might not be as applicable to androgenic alopecia (aka male pattern baldness — MPB) as they are to scarring and other forms of alopecia involving damaged hair follicles. However, there is still some potential that these findings and any new medication that arises from them will also benefit androgenic alopecia patients.  Dr. Garza rightfully warns MPB sufferers to not get their hopes up, but he has not entirely ruled out any benefit.
  2. Yes the work was largely done on mice.  Not worth repeating this in the comments if you make one.

I have discussed Dr. Luis Garza’s work on this blog several times before, mostly related to his important findings about prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and its impact on hair growth.  Dr. Garza is in all likelihood among the ten most accomplished and respected hair loss researchers in the world.  He works at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  In fact he has his own named facility there called the Garza Laboratory.  The list of projects that his team is currently working on includes several focused on hair growth.

Today, Dr. Garza and his team published an important article in the Cell Stem Cell Journal.  Basically they have found that a protein called toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) plays a crucial role in the regeneration of damaged skin and hair follicles.  TLR3 activates various genes (IL6 and STAT3) and signaling pathways (Wnt and Shh) that are involved in hair regeneration.

It is common knowledge that damaged mammalian skin releases double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which is then sensed by TLR3. Besides the previously mentioned regeneration of damaged skin and hair follicles, TLR2 also plays a role in activating the immune system.

While most of the main work was done on mice, in a side experiment on humans, the Garza team found that “the expression of TLR3 was five times higher in scratched human skin cell samples compared to healthy skin cell samples.”

The Garza team also found that adding synthetic synthetic dsRNA to mouse skin wounds led to a greater number of regenerated follicles.

My two favorite quotes from Dr. Garza in the article:

It has long been known that skin damage can trigger regeneration.

The clinical translation of this work is promising because work has already started, says Garza. Drug companies are already developing products to activate TLR3 to trigger the immune system, and these same products could be tested to promote regeneration.

My least favorite quote from Dr. Garza in the article (although the “might” in there makes me happier):

He also made clear that the information might not be as applicable to conditions unrelated to scarring or to those whose hair follicles are lost from male pattern baldness.