Breakthrough Hair Loss Treatment May Have Been Discovered Using MicroRNA
Male pattern baldness, a type of hereditary hair loss, is very common among men. In fact, about two-thirds of men will experience an appreciable amount of hair loss by the time they reach age 35. And, by the age of 50, this figure rises to 85%. Additionally, a quarter of men will begin to have hair loss even before they are 21. Hair loss can be troubling for menTrusted Source with many reporting that their baldness makes them feel less attractive, depressed, or fearful of growing older. Now, however, researchers say they may have found a promising new treatment for this often emotionally distressing condition. According to the study authors, hair follicles become stiffer due to aging. However, their study, which appears in the journal PNAS, found that softening hair follicle cells by increasing the production of a particular type of microRNA could aid in increasing hair growth and regeneration. Tiny RNA particles may be the key to reversing baldness According to board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Michele Green, who was not involved in the study, hair follicles have various stem cells that are responsible for the regulation of hair growth. “This new study may have found a breakthrough in hair regeneration using small RNA particles or microRNA,” she explained. “More specifically,” she noted, “miR-205 has been identified as an important microRNA that can potentially stimulate hair growth.” Green said that RNA (ribonucleic acid) is present in all living cells. It acts as a messenger to carry instructions from our DNA to regulate protein production. Hair follicles can become stiffer as we age, which, in turn, affects hair growth. “In this study, researchers found that increasing the production of miR-205 softened the stem cells,” said Green. “By softening the hair follicle stem cells, hair growth increased in both young and old mice.” The effect was fairly quick, as well. Green noted that there was increased hair growth after just ten days. How this would be different from current baldness treatments Dr. Ken L. Williams, Jr., a hair surgeon and founder of Orange County Hair Restoration in Irvine, CA, who was also not a part of the study, explained that current FDA-approved treatments for hair loss and thinning in both men and women include:
“Hair restoration surgery is also a successful surgical decision for patients who meet criteria,” he added. Green further explained that any treatment based on the current study would work via a different mechanism than what we currently have available. “Minoxidil works by shortening the resting phase of the hair growth cycle and elongating the growth phase,” she said. “Minoxidil also reverses follicle miniaturization and stimulates circulation around the hair follicles.” In the case of finasteride, it works by inhibiting DHT, which is a male hormone that is responsible for male pattern baldness. “Hair follicles are sensitive to hormonal changes and especially DHT,” she added. Laser light therapyTrusted Source utilizes light in wavelengths ranging from red to infrared to stimulate tissue regeneration and repair. Finally, she said, PRP involves injecting a concentration of platelets rich in growth factors, which improves the health of follicles, increases blood supply, and stimulates reparative cells. What this could mean for the future of hair loss treatment Williams said, “The final outcomes or medical translation of these types of data is always promising, but is impossible to determine so early after discovery.” However, he noted that it is possible that a new treatment will be developed based on these findings. Green additionally cautioned that the study was only performed on genetically engineered mice. More research is needed before we will know if this process will work in humans, she advised. However, if a new treatment does come to fruition, it will “significantly advance hair restoration,” Green concluded, noting that she believes that researchers will probably look at a topical treatment that delivers microRNA directly into the skin. Williams said, however, that it is too early to know what type of delivery system will be created for miR-205, whether that would be a transdermal injection or an oral tablet. from Healthline
Summary: In a new study, researchers discovered that age-related stiffness in hair follicle stem cells can inhibit hair growth. By enhancing the production of a tiny RNA, miR-205, they managed to soften these cells, encouraging hair growth in both young and old mice. These findings indicate the potential for stimulating hair growth by manipulating cell mechanics. This could pave the way for novel treatments for hair loss, with future tests set to determine whether topically delivered miR-205 can stimulate hair growth in humans. Key Facts:
Source: Northwestern University Coaxing hair growth in aging hair follicle stem cells Softening stiff hair follicle stem cells with a microRNA regrows hair  Just as people’s joints can get stiff as they age and make it harder for them to move around, hair follicle stem cells also get stiff, making it harder for them to grow hair, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. But if the hair follicle’s stem cells are softened, they are more likely to produce hair, the scientists found. Northwestern scientists discovered how to soften up those stem cells to enable them to grow hair again. In a study in mice published this week in PNAS, the investigators report that they can soften the stem cells by boosting the production of a tiny RNA, miR-205, that relaxes the hardness of the cells. When scientists genetically manipulated the stem cells to produce more miR-205, it promoted hair growth in young and old mice. “They started to grow hair in 10 days,” said corresponding author Rui Yi, the Paul E. Steiner Research Professor of Pathology and professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “These are not new stem cells being generated. We are stimulating the existing stem cells to grow hair. A lot of times we still have stem cells, but they may not be able to generate the hair. “Our study demonstrates the possibility of stimulating hair growth by regulating cell mechanics. Because of the potential to deliver microRNA by nanoparticles directly into the skin, next we will test whether topically delivered miR-205 can stimulate hair growth first in mice. If successful, we will design experiments to test whether this microRNA can promote hair growth potentially in humans.” This study was conducted in genetically engineered mouse models. The scientists used advanced microscopy tools, including atomic force microscopy, to measure the stiffness and two-photon microscopy to monitor cell behaviors in live animals. The article is titled “MicroRNA-205 promotes hair regeneration by modulating mechanical properties of hair follicle stem cells.” Other Northwestern authors include Jingjing Wang, Yuheng Fu and Kathleen Green. Funding: This study was funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases grants AR066703, AR071435, AR043380, AR041836 and P30AR075049 of the National Institutes of Health. About this genetics research news
Author: Marla Paul Source: Northwestern University Contact: Marla Paul – Northwestern University Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News Original Research: Open access. “MicroRNA-205 promotes hair regeneration by modulating mechanical properties of hair follicle stem cells” by Rui Yi et al. PNAS Abstract MicroRNA-205 promotes hair regeneration by modulating mechanical properties of hair follicle stem cells Stiffness and actomyosin contractility are intrinsic mechanical properties of animal cells required for the shaping of tissues. However, whether tissue stem cells (SCs) and progenitors located within SC niche have different mechanical properties that modulate their size and function remains unclear. Here, we show that hair follicle SCs in the bulge are stiff with high actomyosin contractility and resistant to size change, whereas hair germ (HG) progenitors are soft and periodically enlarge and contract during quiescence. During activation of hair follicle growth, HGs reduce contraction and more frequently enlarge, a process that is associated with weakening of the actomyosin network, nuclear YAP accumulation, and cell cycle reentry. Induction of miR-205, a novel regulator of the actomyosin cytoskeleton, reduces actomyosin contractility and activates hair regeneration in young and old mice. This study reveals the control of tissue SC size and activities by spatiotemporally compartmentalized mechanical properties and demonstrates the possibility to stimulate tissue regeneration by fine-tuning cell mechanics. Oral minoxidil is becoming an increasingly popular treatment option for hair loss patients. This article will discuss a few background points regarding this phenomenon. LOW-DOSE ORAL MINOXIDIL FOR HAIR GROWTH Over the past 3-4 years, the prescription and use of oral minoxidil for hair loss has increased. This trend was likely driven by several peer-reviewed studies published around 2019/2020, including a study done at the Ramon y Cajal University Hospital in Spain, and a paper published in 2020 by Antonella Tosti and Michael Randolph, both appeared in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology. Both studies presented an overall favorable opinion of the use of oral minoxidil for androgenic alopecia, and the latter concluded that it “was found to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment alternative for healthy patients having difficulty with topical formulations.”  JAAD 2019; 81: 648-9 Dating back to over 50 years ago, oral minoxidil first showed signs of hypertrichosis in patients who were using the drug as a hypertensive agent, or a treatment to lower blood pressure. Several years later, a topical formulation of minoxidil was developed, and in 1988 the first version of 2% Regaine was launched in the UK as a treatment for pattern hair loss. Presumably, regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical company who was developing minoxidil for hypertension had concerns about using it as a systemic treatment for hair loss. For over the past 30 years, topical minoxidil has been a staple hair loss treatment and a household name, as one of the only 2 FDA approved treatments for hair loss. Topical use of the product has come with mixed results among patients, mostly due to the varying amounts person-to-person of sulfotransferase, or SULT1A1, enzymes which are found in one’s hair follicles. The SULT1A1 enzyme is needed to convert minoxidil to its active form minoxidil sulfate within the hair follicle in order for the drug to promote a significant hair growth effect. It is a common theory that oral minoxidil outperforms topical minoxidil in hair growth efficacy due to facts that 1) the liver converts minoxidil into its sulfated form via phenol sulfotransferase and negates the need for hair follicle SULT1A1 levels and 2) the treatment naturally goes systemic and is more present in the bloodstream. Low-dose oral minoxidil is established to be at a dose of 5mg or lower.  33 Year Old Female Result Oral Minoxidil (www.irycis.org) DISCUSSION Interest from multiple readers of this site prompted me to write about the use of low-dose oral minoxidil (OM) for hair growth, otherwise, I figured that most people were already aware of the possibility of getting this drug prescribed to them. Throughout various messaging channels on the internet, it is possible to find a multitude of testimonials from users of oral minoxidil, many positive, and some of them show very impressive results. Alternatively, you can also find remarks from users who experienced adverse effects from the drug and subsequently discontinued its use. A topic for which I have yet to find literature for, and one which I think deserves attention, is suggesting the lowest efficacious dose of OM for AGA, or “microdosing” OM. For a dermatologist’s perspective on the use of low-dose OM for AGA, see a review written for the JAAD which includes clinical trial data and mentions the warnings associated with the drug. Several years from now, it may be possible to evaluate longer term use of low-dose OM for AGA and compare its safety to the relatively short-term studies linked above, which were found to be generally favorable. Low-dose oral minoxidil should always be used under doctor’s supervision. from Follicle Thought
Rosemary Oil and Hair Growth is all the talk these days. Last August I included an article in my newsletter under 3 Hair Trends That Will Be Everywhere This Summer about Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth. Below is the article "Should I Use Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth?" from Healthline.com Should I Use Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth?
Topically applied rosemary oil may help support hair growth and prevent hair loss. But applying too much can cause side effects. Rosemary essential oil and hair Rosemary is a culinary and healing herb. This woody perennial is native to the Mediterranean region, where it’s been used as food and medicine for centuries. Much like oregano, peppermint, and cinnamon, rosemary is frequently found in essential oil form. Essential oils are highly concentrated and distilled extracts of volatile plant compounds. These are used for cooking, cleaning, beauty, health, and other purposes. Rosemary essential oil is a common variety you can purchase and use as a home remedy. The oil’s health uses range from antioxidant benefits and anti-inflammation to memory enhancement and more. In recent years, there have been claims that the oil may be great for hair growth. Some say it could even prevent hair loss, pointing to Mediterranean cultures’ use of rosemary in hair rinses to promote hair growth for hundreds of years as supporting evidence. Can rosemary oil treat hair loss? The idea that rosemary oil encourages hair growth may come from the rosemary’s basic health benefits. The plant in essential oil form is said to:
Like peppermint essential oil (also used to promote hair growth), rosemary essential oil strengthens circulation. As a result, it could prevent hair follicles from being starved of blood supply, dying off, and leading to hair loss. Beyond stimulating hair growth, rosemary essential oil is used to prevent premature graying and dandruff. It may also help dry or itchy scalp. Do studies support the claims? According to some scientific evidence, rosemary may benefit nerve tissue. Carnosic acid, an active ingredient in the plant, healed tissue and nerve damage in one study. This ability to heal nerve endings may rejuvenate nerves in the scalp too, in turn possibly restoring hair growth. More revealing recent studies show that rosemary directly helps protect against hair loss. One 2015 trialTrusted Source pitted the essential oil against minoxidil, commercially known as Rogaine. Both were used on human subjects with androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness). Results showed that rosemary essential oil was just as effective a minoxidil. During the process, it helped the side effect of itchy scalp more successfully than minoxidil. Another studyTrusted Source of rosemary leaf extract (different from the essential oil) showed it stimulated hair growth. This occurred when hair loss was triggered by testosterone (as in pattern baldness). This study was performed on mice, however. Two separate clinical reviews — one from 2010Trusted Source and one from 2011 — also acknowledge rosemary’s hair growth potential. The former cites a study with successful hair regrowth in people with alopecia who used essential oils. One of these essential oils was rosemary. In the latter review, rosemary essential oil was described as a hair loss restorative. This was due to its circulation-improving effects. How should I use rosemary oil for hair loss? Here are a few ways to try using rosemary essential oil as a hair restorative and thickener. Try any of these treatments one to two times per week to start out. Use them more often when desired or you’ve become comfortable using them. 1. Massage it directly into your scalpAfter mixing about 5 drops of rosemary essential oil with a teaspoon of carrier oil (like jojoba oil or coconut oil), massage evenly into your scalp after bath or shower. Rinsing out the oil afterward is optional — though if you do rinse, let the oil sit on your scalp for at least 5 to 10 minutes beforehand. 2. Mix it into your shampooThis can also apply to conditioners, lotions, or creams. Play it safe and don’t add too much. Keep to about five drops per ounce of product. Afterward, use the product like usual. You can also add 2 to 3 drops directly to any hair product when you apply a dollop of it on your palm before use. 3. Add it to your own homemade shampooThere are many recipes online for a shampoo base. You can also add essential oils for your preferred health and beauty benefits. These may incorporate a mixture of baking soda, coconut oil, essential oil, and possibly other oils. Try this one at Tiny Apothecary. What should I know before using rosemary oil? Avoid getting essential oil in your eyes. If contact occurs, quickly rinse your eyes with cold water. Likewise, be careful not to apply too much to your scalp. Rosemary essential oil has been known to irritate the skin. It may cause discomfort, but no health dangers. To avoid skin irritation, dilute the oil with a carrier oil or other product before applying it. Not enough is known about the safety of using rosemary essential oils while pregnant or breastfeeding. Though using the essential oil for hair loss is only done topically, be cautious — its effects in this regard are still unknown. The bottom line Rosemary has been used by many to promote hair growth successfully. Using rosemary essential oil could very well do the same for you. Science and personal experience together both strongly suggest the essential oil does protect against hair loss, particularly that related to male or female pattern baldness. It may even be effective for alopecia. Rosemary essential oil is a simple remedy that you can use at home, and it may even be competitive with commercial products. What’s more, it’s quite safe when used correctly and yields very few side effects. Managing Chemotherapy-Induced Hair Loss Many survivors see significant hair changes during cancer treatment, leaving a difficult reminder when they look in the mirror.  Chemotherapy-induced alopecia, or hair loss, is a common side effect of many chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Chemotherapy works by targeting rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells. However, hair follicles also divide rapidly and are therefore affected by the treatment. As a result, hair loss can occur anywhere hair grows –– on the scalp, face and body. Not everyone who receives chemo will experience hair loss, but for those who do, it can be distressing. For many people, hair is an important aspect of self-expression and identity, and losing it can be emotionally difficult. As she recalls her experience with chemotherapy for breast cancer, Lauren Thorse remembers that when she was told she would need chemotherapy, “my first thought was that my hair is gonna go.” As someone who reports struggling for years with self-confidence, Thorse, of Naperville, Illinois, found the impending hair loss upsetting. Having always had long blond hair, seeing it fall out in clumps and finding it around the house led her to decide to shave it. With the support of her father, and her mother and sister via FaceTime, her husband shaved her hair off. After finally coming to terms with losing her hair, she then had to wrap her head around the fact that “it’s going to take years to get back to where it was.” Cancer survivor Jessica Gardner of Youngstown, Pennsylvania, also took matters into her own hands when she began losing her hair from chemotherapy. After being diagnosed with breast cancer while 33 weeks pregnant and undergoing a bilateral mastectomy not long after having a cesarean section, she felt that she wanted to have control over something — and that was her hair loss. While livestreaming the shaving of her head, she felt as if she was getting some of her power and control back. Once their hair was gone, both Thorse and Gardner felt frustrated over the lack of resources that were available to women their age, in their early 30s, with young children. They found that many of the resources were for older women and didn’t quite meet them where they were in life. Thorse recalls, “I felt like the wigs I was directed to were more for older women.”  Because Gardner found local support groups difficult to connect with, she created the group Cancer Is a Mother on Facebook. She found that this was a way to do something positive with her cancer diagnosis. “It was something I needed to do personally to feel better about cancer and where I was as a survivor.” Hair loss can be gradual or sudden, and it can begin within a few weeks of starting chemotherapy treatment. Some patients may experience thinning of the hair, whereas others may experience complete baldness. In some cases, hair may only thin or fall out in certain areas, creating patchy hair loss. This is most often temporary, and the hair will grow back once chemotherapy treatment is completed. However, in rare cases, some patients may experience long-term or permanent hair loss. The risk of either of those is generally low, but it can depend on the type and dose of chemotherapy used. Certain chemotherapies, such as taxanes, are associated with a higher risk of long-term or permanent hair loss. Now that a full year has gone by since completing chemotherapy, Thorse states that although her hair is growing, she doesn’t look like she used to. “Every now and then I do mourn for myself if I do see a picture. It’s been a year, but I still have a long way to go.” Chemotherapy isn’t the only cancer treatment that can affect hair. Hormone therapy for cancer treatment can target hormones that help cancer cells grow, such as estrogen and progesterone. It can be used to block the production of these hormones, or block the receptors that respond to them, or lower their levels. This changes the balance of hormones in the body and causes hair thinning. This also causes hair follicles to shrink, leading to thinner, weaker hair. Lisa Opalweski, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, has experienced hair loss multiple times during her cancer journey. Initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, she notes, “Yes, I knew I was going to lose my hair; yes, I was going to run around bald for a while. I knew it was going to come back.” After being diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 2019, she has been treated with hormonal therapy and targeted therapy. “I used to have extremely thick, curly hair. Now I have baby thin hair.” Wigs and hairpieces can be used as a temporary solution for hair loss. Many cancer centers and support groups have resources for obtaining wigs or hairpieces at little or no cost. However, there are now ways to help manage hair loss through scalp cooling. Cooling the scalp during chemotherapy treatment decreases blood flow to the scalp and reduces the amount of chemotherapy drugs reaching the hair follicles. By reducing the amount of chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles, patients experience less hair loss. According to the results of one study led by Dr. Julie Nangia, a breast oncologist and an assistant professor of medicine at the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center and Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, women receiving chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer were enrolled in a study to evaluate the effectiveness of scalp cooling on hair loss. Of those who underwent scalp cooling, 50.5% had some preservation of their hair after four cycles of chemotherapy. In those who did not use scalp cooling, no one experienced hair preservation. There are currently a couple of ways to cool the scalp. One way is through the use of cold caps, which uses tight-fitting caps placed on the head to cool the scalp during chemo- therapy infusion. The caps are stored in a special freezer and must be changed throughout the infusion to keep the scalp at a sufficiently cold temperature. In order to successfully use the caps, a patient will need to have help to change the caps at the instructed intervals during treatment. Another method of scalp cooling is through a device that circulates coolant through the cap to keep the scalp at a consistently cool temperature. The hat is placed once at the beginning of treatment and the coolant will continue to keep the temperature consistent. According to Dr. Nangia, cooling the scalp starts 30 minutes before chemotherapy and the cap continues to be worn until 30 to 90 minutes after chemotherapy has been completed. It is also important to practice good hair care with scalp cooling therapy. This can include using a gentle shampoo, avoiding heat styling tools, and being gentle when combing or brushing the hair. Dr. Nangia notes that the biggest barrier to scalp cooling is the cost. If insurance does not cover the therapy, out-of-pocket costs can be over $2,000. She states that the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, which provides guidelines for cancer treatment and supportive care, has added scalp cooling to these guidelines as a method to be considered for those who may experience chemotherapy-induced alopecia. With this recommendation from the network, Dr. Nangia hopes that insurance companies will start covering the cost of this therapy so more patients can benefit. The rate of hair regrowth can vary for each patient, but typically hair starts to regrow within a few weeks to a few months after completing chemotherapy treatment. Regrowth may be slow at first, but it should become more rapid over time. It can take several months to a year for hair to fully regrow and regain its previous texture and color. In some cases, hair may not fully regrow or may regrow with a different texture or color. Chemo curls, also known as “chemo waves,” is a term used to describe the changes in hair texture that some patients experience after chemotherapy. The term refers to the curls, waves or kinks that can develop in the hair as it regrows. This can be caused by the chemotherapy treatment and the changes in the hair structure. It is not exclusive to scalp hair and can occur on hair all over the body. The new hair growth is usually soft and thin at first, and it may take several months for the hair to return to its pre-treatment thickness and texture. Some people may experience complete regrowth of their hair, whereas others may have patchy or thin hair growth. It also might take one to two years for hair to appear as it was before chemotherapy, and this can vary from person to person. Overall, hair growth after chemo is a gradual process, and it can take time for hair to fully recover. Many members of the health care team are involved during cancer treatment. However, one area that is often overlooked and underutilized during this time is dermatology. Dr. Adam Friedman, professor and chair of dermatology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., knows what dermatologists can offer patients experiencing hair loss during cancer treatment, but they are not often a part of the cancer experience. He suggests prevention of hair loss through scalp cooling may offer the best results if someone is experi- encing complete hair loss, but there are other options for those with thinning hair that may be helpful. Applying topical minoxidil to the scalp can keep the hair in a constant state of growth. Friedman notes that it must be used consistently for best results and can be difficult to apply. He cautions against the use of supplements unless they are specifically approved by the health care team. Some supplements, such as biotin, can interfere with some blood tests, and may not be safe for some patients to use. He also notes that the off-label use of Latisse (bimatoprost) can be helpful for regrowth of eyelashes and eyebrows after chemotherapy. One of the most important things voiced by cancer survivors is that they want hair loss to be a topic that is brought up and discussed, and not glossed over, during visits. Megan Harman, FNP-C, with SSM Health in Lake St. Louis, understands this. She understands that hair loss can be a harsh reality the patient with cancer has to live with. It can be difficult for patients to fully prepare mentally and emotionally for hair loss until it happens. When talking with patients during this time, she often directs them toward various resources and allows them the time to voice their feelings about their situation. It is notable that much of the research about alopecia focuses on breast cancer survivors in comparison with other cancer survivors. One reason is that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second most common cancer overall, so a large number of patients undergo chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Additionally, hair loss is a common and highly visible side effect of chemotherapy treatment, and it can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. Breast cancer survivors, especially women, tend to be more concerned about hair loss due to chemotherapy as hair loss affects their appearance and self-esteem. Another reason is that breast cancer research has traditionally been well funded, which has allowed for more research to be conducted on the effects of chemotherapy on hair loss in breast cancer survivors. This has resulted in a greater understanding of the mechanisms behind hair loss and the development of new hair loss prevention and treatment methods specifically tailored for patients with breast cancer. For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here. from CureToday
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