Micro-Current Stimulation Has Potential Effects of Hair Growth-Promotion on Human Hair Follicle-Derived Papilla Cells and Animal Model

Hwang

et al. 2022

IJMS

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Acne is a common inflammatory disorder of the human skin and a multifactorial disease caused by the sebaceous gland and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of micro-current stimulation (MC) on peptidoglycan (PGN)-treated raw 264.7 macrophages and P. acnes-induced skin inflammation. To specify the intensity with anti-inflammatory effects, nitric oxide (NO) production was compared according to various levels of MC. As the lowest NO production was shown at an intensity of 50 μA, subsequent experiments used this intensity. The changes of expression of the proteins related to TLR2/NF-κB signaling were examined by immunoblotting. Also, immunofluorescence analysis was performed for observing NF-κB p65 localization. All of the expression levels of proteins regarding TLR2/NF−κB signaling were decreased by the application of MC. Moreover, the application of MC to PGN−treated raw 264.7 cells showed a significant decrease in the amount of nuclear p65−protein. In the case of animal models with P. acnes−induced skin inflammation, various pro−inflammatory cytokines and mediators significantly decreased in MC−applied mice. In particular, the concentration of IL−1β in serum decreased, and the area of acne lesions, decreased from the histological analysis. We suggest for the first time that MC can be a novel treatment for acne.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro-Current Stimulation Suppresses Inflammatory Responses in Peptidoglycan-Treated Raw 264.7 Macrophages and Propionibacterium acnes-Induced Skin Inflammation via TLR2/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Hwang

et al. 2022

IJMS

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Journal of Immunology Research

“…Topical medications have favorable side effects compared to those of systemic therapies, but many topical medicines are poorly absorbed transdermally, limiting their effective concentration at HFs and targeting dermal HFs. Other approaches, including prostaglandin F2 α (PGF2 α ) analogs, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, cytokine inhibitors [ 5 ], laser therapy [ 6 ], and microcurrent stimulation [ 7 ] still lack clinical trials that are evidence-based and at a high level to affirm their efficacy. Therefore, the available treatments are far from desirable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exosomes Secreted from Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Are a Potential Treatment Agent for Immune-Mediated Alopecia

Wang

et al. 2022

Background. Alopecia has become an exceedingly prevalent dermatological disorder. Etiologically, infection (bacterial and fungal infection), inflammation, and immune dysregulation are the main causes of immune-mediated hair loss. Treating hair loss has remained challenging as the available therapies are limited. Exosomes from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC-Exos) have been used for treating neurodegenerative diseases and autoimmune diseases and in wound-healing treatments. However, the function and mechanism of ADSC-Exos in alopecia treatment remain unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the effects of ADSC-Exos on hair growth in vitro and in vivo for potentially treating immune-mediated alopecia and further exploring the underlying mechanism. Methods. Cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) that were treated with ADSC-Exos were detected using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, scratch wound-healing assay, and flow cytometry assay, respectively. A C57BL/6 hair-depilated mouse model was established in vivo; then, ADSC-Exos were subcutaneously injected alone or in combined with minoxidil. The effects of ADSC-Exos on hair growth, pathological changes, and the related mechanism were investigated by HE staining, quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Results. ADSC-Exos significantly promoted DPC proliferation and migration while also reducing apoptosis. In addition, compared with the control group, ADSC-Exos-treated mice had better hair growth, more hair follicles (HFs) and thicker dermis. RNA-seq revealed that the miR-22 and TNF-α signaling pathways were markedly downregulated in DPCs after ADSC-Exos treatment. In addition, according to qRT-PCR and western blotting results, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was activated in the skin of ADSC-Exos-treated mice. Conclusion. ADSC-Exos therapy positively affected the promotion of hair regrowth by regulating miR-22, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and the TNF-α signaling pathway, implying that ADSC-Exos could be a promising cell-free therapeutic strategy for immune-mediated alopecia.

“…In other studies, it is suggested that modulating the cell cycle is an efficient strategy to reduce lipid accumulation in the multi-clonal expansion (MCE) period [ 38 , 39 ]. We have reported in previous studies that MCS contributed to the cell cycle progression of HFDPC cells at 25 μA and 50 μA concentrations for hair growth [ 40 ]. However, further studies are needed regarding whether MCS affects adipose cell cycle-related proteins.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro-Current Stimulation Can Modulate the Adipogenesis Process by Regulating the Insulin Signaling Pathway in 3T3-L1 Cells and ob/ob Mice

Kim

et al. 2023

Life

Self Cite

Obesity is a disease in which fat is abnormally or excessively accumulated in the body, and many studies have been conducted to overcome it with various techniques. In this study, we evaluated whether micro-current stimulation (MCS) can be applied to prevent obesity by regulating the adipogenesis through 3T3-L1 cells and ob/ob mice. To specify the intensity of MCS, Oil Red O staining was conducted with various intensities of MCS. Based on these, subsequent experiments used 200 and 400 μA for the intensity of MCS. The expressions of insulin signaling pathway-related proteins, including phosphorylation of IGF-1 and IR, were decreased in all MCS groups, and in turn, downstream signals such as Akt and ERK were decreased. In addition, MCS reduced the nucleus translocation of PPAR-γ and decreased the protein expression of C/EBP-α. In the ob/ob mouse model, MCS reduced body weight gain and abdominal adipose tissue volume. In particular, the concentration of triglycerides in serum was also decreased. Taken together, our findings showed that MCS inhibited lipid accumulation by regulating insulin signaling in 3T3-L1, and it was effective at reducing body weight and adipose tissue volume in ob/ob mice. These suggest that MCS may be a useful treatment approach for obesity.