Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells in Follicle Regeneration

Abstract

Alopecia is caused by a variety of factors which affect the hair cycle and decrease stem cell activity and hair follicle regeneration capability. This process causes lower self-acceptance, which may result in depression and anxiety. However, an early onset of androgenic alopecia is associated with an increased incidence of the metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of the cardiac ischaemic disease. The ubiquity of alopecia provides an encouragement to seek new, more effective therapies aimed at hair follicle regeneration and neoregeneration. We know that stem cells can be used to regenerate hair in several therapeutic strategies: reversing the pathological mechanisms which contribute to hair loss, regeneration of complete hair follicles from their parts, and neogenesis of hair follicles from a stem cell culture with isolated cells or tissue engineering. Hair transplant has become a conventional treatment technique in androgenic alopecia (micrografts). Although an autologous transplant is regarded as the gold standard, its usability is limited, because of both a limited amount of material and a reduced viability of cells obtained in this way. The new therapeutic options are adipose-derived stem cells and stem cells from Wharton's jelly. They seem an ideal cell population for use in regenerative medicine because of the absence of immunogenic properties and their ease of obtainment, multipotential character, ease of differentiating into various cell lines, and considerable potential for angiogenesis. In this article, we presented advantages and limitations of using these types of cells in alopecia treatment.

Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil®, Finasteride®, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy

“…Since AGA is characterized by an important inflammatory infiltrate, being responsible for the release of a variety of inflammatory cytokines [44], it is likely that the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties of PRP or dermal and progenitor stem cells may favor HRG [44][45][46].…”

A Concise Review on Tissue Engineered Artificial Skin Grafts for Chronic Wound Treatment: Can We Reconstruct Functional Skin Tissue In Vitro?

“…Incorporation of additional GFs (e.g., KGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor-BDNF, nerve growth factor-NGF) within the hypodermal layer of the graft could also induce transdifferentiation of ADSCs toward sweat glands and nerves. Importantly, ADSCs and SVF have also been reported to be effective in hair follicle regeneration, inducing hair growth [183]. The dermal layer of the skin graft would be bioprinted with fibroblasts as a highly porous structure to ensure new blood vessel formation and nutrient supply to the wound bed.…”

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

“…It is likely that the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of PRP or dermal and progenitor stem cells may favor hair regrowth [22][23][24] since AGA, as known, is characterized by an inflammatory infiltrate, responsible for the inflammatory cytokine release [22].…”