Research Alert
BACKGROUND
News — Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secretome have significant potential in promoting hair follicle development. However, the effects of MSC therapy have been reported to vary due to their heterogeneous characteristics. Different sources of MSCs or culture systems may cause heterogeneity of exosomes.
AIM
To define the potential of human adipose-derived MSC exosomes (hADSC-Exos) and human umbilical cord-derived MSC exosomes (hUCMSC-Exos) for improving dermal papillary cell proliferation in androgenetic alopecia.
METHODS
We conducted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry proteomic analysis of hADSC-Exos and hUCMSC-Exos. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry suggested that hADSC-Exos were related to metabolism and immunity. Additionally, the hADSC-Exo proteins regulated the cell cycle and other 9 functional groups.
RESULTS
We verified that hADSC-Exos inhibited glycogen synthase kinase-3β expression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via cell division cycle protein 42, and enhanced dermal papillary cell proliferation and migration. Excess dihydrotestosterone caused androgenetic alopecia by shortening the hair follicle growth phase, but hADSC-Exos reversed these effects.
CONCLUSION
This study indicated that hair development is influenced by hADSC-Exo-mediated cell-to-cell communication via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Core Tip: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry proteomic analysis was conducted to reveal the commonalities and heterogeneities across the human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (hADSC-Exos) and human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell exosomes. A total of 232 common proteins were found in hADSC-Exos and were categorized into 10 functional groups. We have confirmed that hADSC-Exos decrease glycogen synthase kinase-3β expression through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, leading to increased proliferation and migration of dermal papillary cell. Excessive dihydrotestosterone can cause hair loss by shortening the hair growth phase, but hADSC-Exo treatment can reverse this effect. This study suggests that hADSC-Exo plays a role in hair regeneration through cell-to-cell communication via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
- Citation: Fu Y, Han YT, Xie JL, Liu RQ, Zhao B, Zhang XL, Zhang J, Zhang J. Mesenchymal stem cell exosomes enhance the development of hair follicle to ameliorate androgenetic alopecia. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(3): 102088
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