Scientists Show That Blocking Enzymes in Hair Follicles Promotes Hair Growth



A family of enzymes found inside hair follicles can be inhibited, according to recent research from Columbia University, to promote hair growth. Science Advances' online edition contains a study article that was conducted.

In studies using mouse and human hair follicles, Angela M. Christiano, PhD, and associates discovered that topical application of medications that inhibit the Janus kinase (JAK) family of enzymes promotes quick and robust hair growth.

According to the study, JAK inhibitors may be used to stop hair loss caused by male pattern baldness and other conditions where hair follicles are kept in a dormant state in order to promote hair growth. The American Food and Drug Administration has authorized two JAK inhibitors. Ruxolitinib, one of them, is approved for the treatment of blood disorders, while the other one is for rheumatoid arthritis (tofacitinib). Both are undergoing clinical studies for the treatment of autoimmune hair loss caused by alopecia areata and plaque psoriasis.

Dr. Christiano added, "What we've uncovered is promising, albeit we haven't yet demonstrated it's a cure for pattern baldness." "More research is required to determine whether JAK inhibitors can stimulate human hair growth using formulations designed specifically for the scalp."

When researching alopecia areata, a type of hair loss brought on by an autoimmune attack on the hair follicles, Christiano and her colleagues by chance found the impact JAK inhibitors had on hair follicles. In a study published last year, Christiano and colleagues found that JAK inhibitors block the signal that triggers the autoimmune assault and that some patients with the disease experience a return of hair growth after taking the medication orally.

Dr. Christiano discovered throughout these tests that mice developed more hair when the medication was delivered topically as opposed to systemically. This implied that JAK inhibitors might affect hair follicles in addition to preventing immunological attack.

JAK inhibitors quickly roused dormant hair follicles from rest when the researchers conducted a closer examination of normal mouse hair follicles. Hair follicles oscillate between the dormant and active stages rather than producing hair continuously.                                                                                                   
The researchers discovered that JAK inhibitors cause the follicles' typical reawakening process. One of two JAK inhibitors administered to mice for five days caused them to sprout new hair within 10 days, significantly speeding the start of hair development. On control mice, no hair grew in the same amount of time.

Dr. Christiano remarked, "There aren't many substances that can force hair follicles into their development cycle so quickly. Few substances have this powerful an effect so soon, but certain topical agents do eventually cause tufts of hair here and there. Additionally, the medications lengthen hair from human hair follicles generated in culture and on mice with skin grafts.

Since the medications probably affect the same pathways in human follicles as they do in mice, they may be able to both stimulate the formation of new hair and prolong the growth of existing hair in humans.

But it is still unknown if JAK inhibitors can revive hair follicles that have been frozen in a resting condition as a result of androgenetic alopecia (which results in male and female pattern baldness) or other types of hair loss. All of the tests to this point have been carried out on healthy mice and human follicles. The treatment of hair follicles affected by hair loss disorders is currently the subject of experiments.

By COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

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