Category Archives: Shiseido

Dermal Sheath Cup Cells, Hair Multiplication, Shiseido

Shiseido DSC Cell Hair Multiplication Procedure Is Finally Here

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Shiseido Dermal Sheath Cell Hair Multiplication.
Shiseido (Japan)’s Dermal Sheath Cup Cell Hair Multiplication Process. Image from Toho University.

Shiseido’s Dermal Sheath Cup Cell Hair Multiplication Treatment Has Arrived

Today might be among the five most important days in the hair loss world since I first started writing this blog in 2013. Shiseido’s decade-plus-long much awaited dermal sheath cup (DSC) cell hair multiplication (cell culturing and implantation) procedure is finally here for patients starting July 1, 2024. Albeit only in Japan, where they have favorable regulations for faster in-clinic use when it comes to regenerative medicine and stem cell based technologies.

Shiseido (Japan) completed small-scale Phase 3 equivalent trials for this hair multiplication technology in 2023. The results were positive but modest, with no major side effects. I hope the results will improve as they use this autologous DSC cell transplantation process in more patients and gain experience.

For now, you should only expect existing scalp hair thickening and perhaps minimal hair regrowth if you are lucky. Thicker hair in and of itself could lead to a slowdown in further damage from the ravages of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

You can read today’s full announcement here (h/t “Theo” for the super find). The technology is described as having been developed by Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Kyorin University Hospital, and Shiseido. Interestingly, they leave out any mention of Replicel (Canada), with which Shiseido has had past legal issues after a technology sharing agreement went wrong.

S-DSC® Hair Regenerative Medicine

Shiseido has also created a new website related to S-DSC hair regenerative medicine, where the “S” stands for Shiseido. The about S-DSC page is very interesting. S-DSC® treatment promotes hair growth by supplementing the thinning areas of your scalp with your own cultured DSC cells.

They only make claims that existing hair will get thicker and more voluminous, while scalp inflammation will be reduced. Perhaps they also want to temper expectations, even if some people may get good regrowth? Interestingly, women might get better results then men.

S-DSC Hair Regenerative Medicine
S-DSC Hair Regenerative Medicine Treatment.

The key person who led the development of this technology is Professor Emeritus (Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical University) Dr. Ryoji Tsuboi. I feel like a genius for using his image as my main one on my global hair loss research page from the get go. I originally picked Dr. Tsuboi over Dr. Takashi Tsuji just due to a more interesting image of the former at a white board.

Hair Regenerative Outpatient Treatment Begins in Japan on July 1, 2024

Associate Professor Shiro Niyama of the Department of Dermatology at Toho University Ohashi Hospital will start offering this “hair regenerative treatment for thinning hair” using cultured autologous hair bulb root sheath cell products (S-DSC®) from July 1st 2024. Patients will be required to get a referral, and also be responsible for their own costs due to the elective nature of the procedure. Note that this treatment is available for both men and women.

In the procedure itself:

  1. First, healthy scalp tissue of about 5 mm diameter is taken from a non-balding area such as the back of the head.
  2. From this, DSC cells are isolated.
  3. S-DSC is produced after about 6 weeks of culture and quality inspection (a total of 7 vials of S-DSC can be produced).
  4. Once production is completed, patients will return to the hospital and the cultured DSC cells will be injected with a special syringe.

Also check out the November 2023 study from the same team that is titled: “High migratory activity of dermal sheath cup cells associated with the clinical efficacy of autologous cell-based therapy for pattern hair loss.” The conclusion was that ITGA6-positive DSC cells, with superior migratory activity, may promote cell migration into nearby hair follicles.

Dermal Sheath Cup Cells, Shiseido

Shiseido Phase 3 Trial Results

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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.