Conventional and novel stem cell based therapies for androgenic alopecia

Abstract

The prevalence of androgenic alopecia (AGA) increases with age and it affects both men and women. Patients diagnosed with AGA may experience decreased quality of life, depression, and feel self-conscious. There are a variety of therapeutic options ranging from prescription drugs to non-prescription medications. Currently, AGA involves an annual global market revenue of US$4 billion and a growth rate of 1.8%, indicating a growing consumer market. Although natural and synthetic ingredients can promote hair growth and, therefore, be useful to treat AGA, some of them have important adverse effects and unknown mechanisms of action that limit their use and benefits. Biologic factors that include signaling from stem cells, dermal papilla cells, and platelet-rich plasma are some of the current therapeutic agents being studied for hair restoration with milder side effects. However, most of the mechanisms exerted by these factors in hair restoration are still being researched. In this review, we analyze the therapeutic agents that have been used for AGA and emphasize the potential of new therapies based on advances in stem cell technologies and regenerative medicine.

Autologous Micrografts from Scalp Tissue: Trichoscopic and Long-Term Clinical Evaluation in Male and Female Androgenetic Alopecia

“…e outcomes obtained showed that soluble components had little impact on HF germ generation and Ki67+ cell score inside the organoids although BMP6 and VD3 kept up effectively the DP character in the monolayer culture. Talavera-Adame et al [43] revealed the biomolecular pathway involved in cellular therapy.…”

The mechanism of activated platelet‐rich plasma supernatant promotion of hair growth by cultured dermal papilla cells

“…is time-consuming, invasive, and costly, all of which limit its acceptance. 3 Other treatment options, including laser therapy, 4 some natural ingredients, 5 and cell culture-derived conditioned medium, 6 are limited by transient results, unpredictable effects, and controversy.…”

“…In addition, hair follicle transplantation is time‐consuming, invasive, and costly, all of which limit its acceptance . Other treatment options, including laser therapy, some natural ingredients, and cell culture‐derived conditioned medium, are limited by transient results, unpredictable effects, and controversy. Novel, effective treatments of androgenic alopecia would be very helpful.…”

Tissue engineering strategies for human hair follicle regeneration: How far from a hairy goal?

“…Although hair restoration surgery is nowadays the most effective method, donor hair follicles (HFs) scarcity is often its major limitation . Besides, pharmacological treatments still not fully satisfy the patient's needs and entail drastic side effects . Thus, the limited efficacy and possible side effects of the current treatments have fostered the search for alternative therapeutic solutions, capable of generating unlimited number of HFs de novo.…”

“…3 Besides, pharmacological treatments still not fully satisfy the patient's needs and entail drastic side effects. 4 Thus, the limited efficacy and possible side effects of the current treatments have fostered the search for alternative therapeutic solutions, capable of generating unlimited number of HFs de novo. Noteworthy, stem cell-based tissue engineering is emerging as the most thriving approach, aiming to reconstruct HFs in vitro to replace lost or damaged HFs as a consequence of disease, injury, or aging.…”