MicroRNA shows promise for hair regrowth

Date:
July 27, 2020
Source:
North Carolina State University
Summary:
Researchers have identified a microRNA (miRNA) that could promote
hair regeneration. This miRNA -- miR-218-5p -- plays an important
role in regulating the pathway involved in follicle regeneration,
and could be a candidate for future drug development.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers from North Carolina State University have identified a
microRNA (miRNA) that could promote hair regeneration. This miRNA
-- miR-218-5p -- plays an important role in regulating the pathway
involved in follicle regeneration, and could be a candidate for future
drug development.


==========================================================================
Hair growth depends on the health of dermal papillae (DP) cells, which
regulate the hair follicle growth cycle. Current treatments for hair
loss can be costly and ineffective, ranging from invasive surgery to
chemical treatments that don't produce the desired result. Recent hair
loss research indicates that hair follicles don't disappear where balding occurs, they just shrink. If DP cells could be replenished at those sites,
the thinking goes, then the follicles might recover.A research team led
by Ke Cheng, Randall B. Terry, Jr.

Distinguished Professor in Regenerative Medicine at NC State's College
of Veterinary Medicine and professor in the NC State/UNC Joint Department
of Biomedical Engineering, cultured DP cells both alone (2D) and in a 3D spheroid environment. A spheroid is a three-dimensional cellular structure
that effectively recreates a cell's natural microenvironment.In a mouse
model of hair regeneration, Cheng looked at how quickly hair regrew
on mice treated with 2D cultured DP cells, 3D spheroid-cultured DP
cells in a keratin scaffolding, and the commercial hair loss treatment Minoxidil. In a 20-day trial, mice treated with the 3D DP cells had
regained 90% of hair coverage at 15 days.

"The 3D cells in a keratin scaffold performed best, as the spheroid mimics
the hair microenvironment and the keratin scaffold acts as an anchor to
keep them at the site where they are needed," Cheng says. "But we were
also interested in how DP cells regulate the follicle growth process,
so we looked at the exosomes, specifically, exosomal miRNAs from that microenvironment." Exosomes are tiny sacs secreted by cells that play an important role in cell to cell communication. Those sacs contain miRNAs.

MiRNAs are small molecules that regulate gene expression. Cheng and his
team measured miRNAs in exosomes derived from both 3D and 2D DP cells. In
the 3D DP cell-derived exosomes, they pinpointed miR-218-5p, a miRNA that enhances the molecular pathway responsible for promoting hair follicle
growth. They found that increasing miR-218-5p promoted hair follicle
growth, while inhibiting it caused the follicles to lose function.

"Cell therapy with the 3D cells could be an effective treatment for
baldness, but you have to grow, expand, preserve and inject those cells
into the area," Cheng says. "MiRNAs, on the other hand, can be utilized
in small molecule-based drugs. So potentially you could create a cream
or lotion that has a similar effect with many fewer problems. Future
studies will focus on using just this miRNA to promote hair growth."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by North_Carolina_State_University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Shiqi Hu, Zhenhua Li, Halle Lutz, Ke Huang, Teng Su, Jhon Cores,
Phuong-
Uyen Cao Dinh, Ke Cheng. Dermal exosomes containing miR-218-5p
promote hair regeneration by regulating b-catenin signaling. Science
Advances, 2020; 6 (30): eaba1685 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba1685 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200727145808.htm

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