Sustained Human Hair Follicle Growth Ex Vivo in a Glycosaminoglycan Hydrogel Matrix.

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Apr 9;20(7). pii: E1741. doi: 10.3390/ijms20071741.
Sustained Human Hair Follicle Growth Ex Vivo in a Glycosaminoglycan Hydrogel Matrix.
Fernández-Martos S1, Calvo-Sánchez M2,3, García-Alonso K4, Castro B5, Hashtroody B6, Espada J7,8.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and associated proteoglycans have important functions in homeostatic maintenance and regenerative processes (e.g., wound repair) of the skin. However, little is known about the role of these molecules in the regulation of the hair follicle cycle. Here we report that growing human hair follicles ex vivo in a defined GAG hydrogel mimicking the dermal matrix strongly promotes sustained cell survival and maintenance of a highly proliferative phenotype in the hair bulb and suprabulbar regions. This significant effect is associated with the activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling targets (CCDN1, AXIN2) and with the expression of stem cell markers (CK15, CD34) and growth factors implicated in the telogen/anagen transition (TGFβ2, FGF10). As a whole, these results point to the dermal GAG matrix as an important component in the regulation of the human hair follicle growth cycle, and to GAG-based hydrogels as potentially relevant modulators of this process both in vitro and in vivo.

KEYWORDS:
BMP/SMAD; TGFβ; WNT/β-catenin; glycosaminoglycans; human hair follicle; hyaluronic acid; stem cells

Full Study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6480973/

Sigh. Any chance we can get our hands on this hydrogel? I read that it may also be involved in tumor growth so maybe it isn't wise to play scientist with this stuff.

shaftless wrote:Sigh. Any chance we can get our hands on this hydrogel? I read that it may also be involved in tumor growth so maybe it isn't wise to play scientist with this stuff.

Hydrogel really not necessary here. Something similar to this can be taken internally for nutritional support.

Occasionally I see people who have CBS mutations and/or sulfite sensitivities.

Glycosaminoglycans and/or proteoglycans are often attached to sulfur molecules--normally a great thing, but not for everyone, for say for people who cannot take things like MSM, there is N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine, which is in part a hyaluronic acid precursor (lubrication for connective tissue).

https://amzn.to/2WxkTZF

Only downside on this type of supplement is that people who are allergic to shellfish cannot use it.