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Hair regeneration: Mechano-activation and related therapeutic approaches

Nam, Sun Young; Jain, Shreyas Kumar; Kurian, Amal George; Jeong, Ishik; Park, Byung Cheol; Ban, Kiwon; Knowles, Jonathan C; (2025) Hair regeneration: Mechano-activation and related therapeutic approaches. Journal of Tissue Engineering , 16 10.1177/20417314251362398. Green open access

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Abstract

Hair regrowth through mechano-stimulation and other therapeutic approaches has emerged as a significant area of research in regenerative medicine. This review examines recent advances in hair regeneration strategies, with a particular focus on mechanical stimulation and complementary treatments. Studies have demonstrated that skin stretching can activate hair follicle stem cells and promote hair growth under specific conditions and durations. This process involves intricate signaling interactions, particularly through the WNT and BMP pathways, and follows a two-stage mechanism that recruits and modulates the function of macrophages. Mechanical stimulation induces the release of growth factors such as HGF and IGF-1, which activate stem cells and support hair follicle regeneration. Beyond mechanical activation, emerging hair restoration therapies, including MSC transplantation, MSC secretome therapy, and platelet-rich plasma treatments, have shown promising results. These innovative strategies overcome the limitations of conventional therapies, offering effective solutions for various types of hair loss. Additionally, here we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying hair follicle growth and repair, the influence of external factors, and novel hair follicle formation processes, such as chimeric follicle development and follicular neogenesis. Special attention is given to the roles of dermal papilla cells and their interactions with mesenchymal cells in promoting hair regrowth. The key strategies and underlying mechanisms discussed in this review will drive future research and potential clinical applications.

Type: Article
Title: Hair regeneration: Mechano-activation and related therapeutic approaches
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1177/20417314251362398
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1177/20417314251362398
Language: English
Additional information: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
Keywords: Cellular interactions, hair regeneration, mechano-activation, molecular signaling
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Eastman Dental Institute
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Eastman Dental Institute > Biomaterials and Tissue Eng
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10215119
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