The additive effects of minoxidil and retinol on human hair growth in vitro.

Abstract

Minoxidil enhances hair growth by prolonging the anagen phase and induces new hair growth in androgenetic alopecia (AGA), whereas retinol significantly improves scalp skin condition and promotes hair growth. We investigated the combined effects of minoxidil and retinol on human hair growth in vitro and on cultured human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT). The combination of minoxidil and retinol additively promoted hair growth in hair follicle organ cultures. In addition, minoxidil plus retinol more effectively elevated phosphorylated Erk, phosphorylated Akt levels, and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio than minoxidil alone in DPCs and HaCaT. We found that the significant hair shaft elongation demonstrated after minoxidil plus retinol treatment would depend on the dual kinetics associated with the activations of Erk- and Akt-dependent pathways and the prevention of apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.

• Authors: Hyeon Gyeong Yoo, In-Young Chang, Hyun Keol Pyo, Yong Jung Kang, Seung Ho Lee, Oh Sang Kwon, Kwang Hyun Cho, Hee Chul Eun, Kyu Han Kim
• Journal: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin (Biol Pharm Bull) Vol. 30 Issue 1 Pg. 21-6 (Jan 2007) ISSN: 0918-6158 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 17202653 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• BAX protein, human
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• Vitamins
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein
• Vitamin A
• Minoxidil
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases

Topics

• Adult
• Alopecia (drug therapy)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Line
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases (metabolism)
• Hair (drug effects, growth & development, metabolism)
• Hair Follicle (drug effects, growth & development, metabolism)
• Humans
• Keratinocytes (drug effects)
• Male
• Minoxidil (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Organ Culture Techniques
• Phosphorylation (drug effects)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (metabolism)
• Skin (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Vitamin A (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Vitamins (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein (metabolism)