Hair loss is a common disease, which is divided into mild, moderate, and severe hair loss according to the degree of hair loss; androgen alopecia, autoimmune hair loss (alopecia areata), and scarring hair loss according to the cause. Hair loss is currently a medically difficult problem, with limited clinical methods and repeatability.

In recent years, stem cells have made up for the shortcomings of traditional hair transplantation because of their powerful differentiation and regeneration functions and repair functions. They have stood out in various types of hair loss treatment and made important progress.

After research, there are four main mechanisms for stem cell therapy to improve hair loss:

1. antagonistic androgen

Androgen acts on the androgen receptor of hair papilla cells, affects a series of gene expression and signal transduction processes, and inhibits hair growth. The researchers demonstrated through stem cell and immunofluorescence experiments that stem cells can antagonize androgen and its downstream product reactive oxygen species, prevent the destruction of hair follicles, and thus play a protective role.

2. Improve local scalp blood transport

"Cell Transplantation" magazine released that stem cells secrete VEGF, HGF, FGF and other growth factors to promote the formation of blood vessels, provide nutrients for hair follicles, and promote hair regeneration.

Zografou et al. transplanted stem cells to the back of mice. After 14 days, it was found that the stem cells increased the concentration of related vascular growth factors such as VEGF, and the dermal vascular density was significantly increased compared with the control group. These evidences suggest that stem cells improve local blood flow around hair follicles and thus improve hair loss.

3. Regulate hair follicle growth

Many scholars reported that stem cells have the function of adjusting the hair follicle cycle and promoting hair growth. In 2010, the Won team applied stem cell conditioned medium to human hair papillary cells cultured in vitro. After 48 h, the proliferation rate of human hair papillary cells was 30% higher than that of the control group. In the same year, the journal "Biomed Res" reported that Park and other stem cell supernatants were injected under the skin of model mice and found that the stem cells could activate the growth phase and promote hair regeneration.

These experimental results show that stem cells can regulate the hair follicle cycle through exocrine function, promote the proliferation of epithelial cells and hair papillary cells in hair follicles, and promote hair growth.

4. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation

Inflammation is often complementary to oxidative stress. Stem cells reduce the proliferation and differentiation of T and B cells, reduce cytotoxicity, reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, and weaken the inflammatory response. At the same time, stem cells inhibit the apoptosis of hair follicle epithelial cells caused by reactive oxygen species and increase the hair follicles. Survival rate, reduce hair follicle damage.

Advances in clinical research on hair loss with stem cell therapy

Clinical case 1: Scientific research staff marked six circular areas with a diameter of 1 cm on the left and right sides of the scalp on the left and right sides of the scalp, respectively, and treated them with stem cells and placebo. After 12 weeks of hair microscopy, they found that the stem cell treatment side Hair growth increased by 10% compared to the placebo side.

Clinical Case 2: Cho et al reported that a patient with frontal hair loss due to scleroderma received a new hair growth in the frontal alopecia area 3 months after the first stem cell transplantation treatment; 3 months after the second stem cell treatment, The new hair invention is thicker and longer, and stem cells provide a new way of thinking for scarring hair loss.

to sum up

Stem cell therapy has been rapidly developed as a high-tech product. my country allocates scientific research funds every year to support clinical research on stem cells. Stem cell therapy will benefit the hair loss population and bring confidence and happiness to patients!