Modulating hair follicle size with Wnt10b/DKK1 during hair regeneration

Exp Dermatol. 2014 Jun;23(6):407-13. doi: 10.1111/exd.12416.
Modulating hair follicle size with Wnt10b/DKK1 during hair regeneration.
Lei M1, Guo H, Qiu W, Lai X, Yang T, Widelitz RB, Chuong CM, Lian X, Yang L.

Hair follicles have characteristic sizes corresponding to their cycle-specific stage. However, how the anagen hair follicle specifies its size remains elusive. Here, we showed that in response to prolonged ectopic Wnt10b-mediated β-catenin activation, regenerating anagen hair follicles grew larger in size. In particular, the hair bulb, dermal papilla and hair shaft became enlarged, while the formation of different hair types (Guard, Awl, Auchene and Zigzag) was unaffected. Interestingly, we found that the effect of exogenous WNT10b was mainly on Zigzag and less on the other kinds of hairs. We observed dramatically enhanced proliferation within the matrix, DP and hair shaft of the enlarged AdWnt10b-treated hair follicles compared with those of normal hair follicles at P98. Furthermore, expression of CD34, a specific hair stem cell marker, was increased in its number to the bulge region after AdWnt10b treatment. Ectopic expression of CD34 throughout the ORS region was also observed. Many CD34-positive hair stem cells were actively proliferating in AdWnt10b-induced hair follicles. Importantly, subsequent co-treatment with the Wnt inhibitor, DKK1, reduced hair follicle enlargement and decreased proliferation and ectopic localization of hair stem cells. Moreover, injection of DKK1 during early anagen significantly reduced the width of prospective hairs. Together, these findings strongly suggest that Wnt10b/DKK1 can modulate hair follicle size during hair regeneration.

There has got to be some sort of viable DKK-1 inhibitor that we can apply topically out there!!

Why can't we use what they were using in this experiment?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21034532

Sort of the classic example you see thrown around on hair loss forums.

Where can we get some of this l-threonate? If it only exists as a metabolite of vitamin C then I hope we don't have to eat a bushel of oranges every day.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22066831

For all practical purposes you could treat the l-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate above as the same thing. Notice the magnesium salt of it was even more effective at collagen promotion than regular ascorbic acid.

So if you were trying to go oral I would buy some magnesium l-threonate. Incidentally it absorbs extremely well in the gut.

As far as topical, I'm not sure but it would be interesting.

At the very least you could be making sodium ascorbate, which is also more efficiently absorbed, just by mixing your ascorbic acid powder with some baking soda in water. When the fizzing has gone down, you've got sodium ascorbate.

Making a short story shorter, I've tried all of this stuff from the beginning.

Also, I can make mention that DKK-1 is not everything.

If you look very closely at the research for instance, the carriers (DMSO or MSM at 8%) were absolutely necessary or it did not work. My personal opinion is that the sulfur derivatives were the working part of the process.

Also, as AS54 just pointed out, yes Magnesium L-threonate does work. However, it is preferable to take it internally.
It works as in a way to curtail anxiety or to promote calmness.

This stuff is normally a bit costly, so a 2-week trial can help one decide if it will work. It takes about that long to show a result on a mood/emotional/stress level. This below is a small supply that is more of a trial version.

http://www.iherb.com/Source-Naturals-Magtein-Magnesium-L-Threonate-667-mg-45-Capsules/47433?=hil335

AS54 wrote:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22066831

For all practical purposes you could treat the l-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate above as the same thing. Notice the magnesium salt of it was even more effective at collagen promotion than regular ascorbic acid.

So if you were trying to go oral I would buy some magnesium l-threonate. Incidentally it absorbs extremely well in the gut.

As far as topical, I'm not sure but it would be interesting.

At the very least you could be making sodium ascorbate, which is also more efficiently absorbed, just by mixing your ascorbic acid powder with some baking soda in water. When the fizzing has gone down, you've got sodium ascorbate.

I didnt see any mention of DKK-1 in that study tho?

Yep, sorry. Meant to post both of the links.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20701628

I dont see how the magnesium salt would also inhibit dkk-1. It only mentions ascorbic

The magnesium salt is a threonate salt. The studies show that both the ascrobic acid phosphate and l-threonate were able to inhibit DKK. Both the ascorbic acid and the l-threonate metabolite of it are able to donate electrons so it probably has to do with some termination of oxidative signalling. In truth, I wouldn't expect a home made topical or oral administration of either of these to really have a miracle effect. To my knowledge these things have been tried by many others at different forums, and it looks like CS too. If it were a miracle we'd know. I do believe its important insight into the pathway. I just don't think from a practical standpoint -meaning how we get it to the end organ- the oral or the homemade topical route are gonna cut it. It would probably require some more potent, targeted vehicle, and I don't believe this in and of itself would regrow a head of hair. Its just interesting academically really.