• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1345-1354
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• 2016

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common and tissue-specific autoimmune disease of hair follicle resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. Hair follicles is a unique organ because it has its own immune system and hormonal milieu and has a different immune state at each hair cycle stage. The collapses of anagen-dependent hair follicle immune privilege arise autoimmune attack, inducing ectopic MHC class I expression in the hair follicle epithelium and autoantigen presentation to autoreactive CD8+T cells, which results in AA. Clinical and experimental studies have pointed that psychological stress may also influence the hair follicle immune/hormone systems and contribute to the induction of AA. The key pathogenesis of AA is associated with immune privilege guardians (including ACTH, ${\alpha}-MSH$, and $TGF-{\beta}$), natural killer group 2D-positive (NKG2D+) cells (including NK and CD8+T cells), and stress hormones (including CRH and substance P). Effective treatments for AA are still demanded. One of the future targets of treatment will be the modification of hair follicle immune privilege including stress. Recent studies have reported that JAK inhibitors and immunomodulators used in other autoimmune disease, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, Tregs, platelet-rich plasma therapy, statins, and prostaglandin anaolgues are effective for AA. Here the article reviews the recent understanding in the pathogenesis associated with perifollicular endocrine/immunology and new treatments of AA.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.619-630
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• 2009

To investigate the hair growth activity of fractions and extract of Arisaematis Rhizoma in the hair removed skin of normal and spontaneous alopecia areata model in C57B/6N mice. These experiments were performed with the macroscopic, microscopic, immunohistochemical(VEGF, c-kit, PKC-${\alpha}$, TGF and FGF) and RT-PCR(TGF-${\beta}$, IGF, prolactin and placenta lactogen) methods. The results were as follows: Macroscopic observation after topical application of vehicle, 50% EtOH as control and extract of Arisaematis Rhizoma to the hair removed skin of C57BL/6N mice on the 9th, 11th and 15th day. Extensive hair growth activity was observed in treated group with extract of Arisaematis Rhizoma on the 9th, 11th and 15th day. In Arisaematis Rhizoma extracts treated group, hair follicles of middle stage of anagen was observed and it were grown down to subcutaneous tissue of skin in all the normal mice on 15th day. But in control group, most of hair follicles of telogen phase was observed in skin. The treatment of extract of Arisaematis Rhizoma increased expression of IGF(145%) and placenta lactogen(108%) in the skin of normal C57BL/6N mice on the 11th day compared to control group(100%). But expression of TGF-${\beta}$(90%) and prolactin(91%) decreased in the skin of normal C57B/6N mice on the 11th day compared to control group(100%). After application of fractions(chloroform, ethyl acetate and water fractions) of Arisaematis Rhizoma extract for 9th day, hair growth effect was observed in whole skin area in 50% of normal mice. But in control group, hair growth effect was not observed in whole skin area of normal mice. Immunoreactive density of VEGF, c-kit, PKC-${\alpha$ and FGF in skin of fractions of Arisaematis Rhizoma extracts was strongly stained in epidermis, bulge, secondary hair germ cells, cutaneous trunci m., subcutaneous tissue, root sheath compare to control group on the 9th day. In spontaneous alopecia areata model, The hair growth activity of Arisaematis Rhizoma extrat treated group(75%) was observed to be strong compared to control group(O%) on 7th day. These experiments suggest that fractions and extracts of Arisaematis Rhizoma may stimulate the topical hair growth activity. Thus it can be useful for treatment of alopecia areata.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.257-262
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• 2012

Currently, various treatments available for alleviating hair loss and combination treatments are commonly used, which are frequently questionable and in effective. We aimed to investigate the synergistic effect regarding the combination of oral herbal composition and topical hair tonic on anagen induction and hair restoration in a shaving model of C57BL/6 mice. Seven-week old mice were trimmed by electric clippers and treated with oral herbal composition and topical hair tonic either alone or in combination. The combination treatment showed the highest hair growth promoting effect. Moreover, it significantly improved total blood antioxidant capacity and reduced lipid peroxidation and triglyceride level, which was not observed in the topical hair tonic treated group. These results suggest that the combination of oral herbal composition and topical hair tonic has a synergistic hair growth promoting effect and such synergism may be the result of the differing hair regrowth mechanisms concerning treatments.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.747-753
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• 2011

It is commonly believed that black soybean (Glycine max: BB) prevents and alleviates hair loss. However, few studies have directly assessed the effect of BB on hair growth. We presently evaluated the mitosis induction on dermal papillae cell and mitogenic effect on NIH3T3 cells in vitro. To elucidate the hair growth promoting effect in vivo, anagen induction and hair restoration were examined in a shaving model of C57BL/6 mice. We also conducted biochemical analysis of blood plasma. Significant stimulation of dermal papillae and NIH3T3 cell proliferation were observed by treatment of BB in a dose-dependent manner. BB markedly promoted hair growth and significantly improved blood total antioxidant capacity and reduced lipid peroxidation and triglyceride level. These results suggest that BB has hair growth promoting effect and it is a potent candidate for the prevention of hair loss.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2010

This study introduces a flexible approach to enhance skin permeation by using ethosomes with deformable lipid membranes as well as controllable sizes. To demonstrate this, a set of ethosomes encapsulating an anti-hair loss ingredient, Triaminodil$^{TM}$, as a model drug, were fabricated with varying their size, which was achieved by solely applying the different level of mechanical energy, while maintaining their chemical composition. After characterization of the ethosomes with dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and deformability measurements, it was found that their membrane deformability depended on the particle size. Moreover, studies on in vitro skin permeation and murine anagen induction allowed us to figure out that the membrane deformability of ethosomes essentially affects delivery efficiency of Triaminodil$^{TM}$ through the skin. It was noticeable in our study that there existed an optimum particle size that can not only maximize the delivery of the drug through the skin, but also increase its actual dermatological activity. These findings offer a useful basis for understanding how ethosomes should be designed to improve delivery efficiency of encapsulated drugs therein in the aspects of changing their length scales and membrane properties.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2021

Proliferation and maintain of dermal papilla during progression of hair-cycle are crucial to the duration of anagen and regulated by diverse signaling pathway such as PI3K/Akt/Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of Viola verecunda on dermal papilla cells. Treatment of dermal papilla cells with whole plant extract of V. verecunda resulted in cell proliferation, which was accompanied by up-regulation of cyclin D1, phospho (ser780)-pRB and cdc2 p34, and down-regulation of p27kip1. V. verecunda extract also promoted the levels of phospho (ser473)-Akt and phospho (ser780)-pRB in a time-dependent manner. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt by Wortmannin suppressed progression of cell-cycle, thereby attenuated the increases in proliferation of dermal papilla cells by V. verecunda extract. We further investigated Wnt/β-catenin pathway with respect to the effects of V. verecunda extract on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells. Treatment with V. verecunda extract results in up-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin proteins such as phospho (ser9)-GSKβ, phospho (ser552)-β-catenin and phospho (ser675)-β-catenin. In addition, Wortmannin abrogated V. verecunda extract mediated up-regulation of cdc2 p34 and down-regulation of p27kip1. These finding reveal that the proliferative effect of V. verecunda mediated by alteration of cell-cycle via activating PI3K/Akt/Wnt pathway in dermal papilla cells.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.555-569
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• 2023

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of N⁶-Methyladenosine modification-circRNA-zinc finger protein 638 (m⁶A-circRNA-ZNF638) on the induced activation of secondary hair follicle (SHF) stem cells with its potential mechanisms in cashmere goats. Methods: The m⁶A modification of ZNF638 was analyzed using methylation immunoprecipitation with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique in SHF stem cells. The effects of circRNA-ZNF638 on the induced activation of SHF stem cells in m⁶A dependence were evaluated through the overexpression of circRNA-ZNF638/its m⁶A-deficient mutants in circRNA-ZNF638 knockdown SHF stem cells. The competitive binding of miR-361-5p to circRNA-ZNF638/Wnt5a 3'- untranslated region was analyzed through Dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results: The m⁶A-circRNA-ZNF638 had significantly higher transcription at anagen SHF bulge of cashmere goats compared with that at telogen, as well as it positively regulated the induced activation of SHF-stem cells in cashmere goats. Mechanismly, m⁶A-circRNA-ZNF638 sponged miR-361-5p to heighten the transcriptional expression of Wnt5a gene in SHF-stem cells. We further demonstrated that the internal m⁶A modification within circRNA-ZNF638 is required for mediating the miR-361-5p/Wnt5a pathway to regulate the induced activation of SHF stem cells through an introducing of m⁶A-deficient mutant of circRNA-ZNF638. Conclusion: The circRNA-ZNF638 contributes the proper induced activation of SHF-stem cells in cashmere goats in m⁶A-dependent manner through miR-361-5p/Wnt5a axis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.196-201
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• 2022

Insects have been proposed as new protein sources for human nutrition, and protein availability is affected by insect characteristics. Fermentation can be used to obtain a variety of insect-based ingredients and products with unique properties, but its effect on protein availability is unknown. Fermented cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) powder consists mainly of protein, and its oral administration has been reported to improve hair growth in androgenetic alopecia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hair-promoting activity of fermented cricket powder in an animal model using male C57BL/6 mice (25-30 g). The abdominal hair of the mouse (2x2.5 cm) was gently removed, and the groups fed as follows: Intact controls (no cricket powder); cricket powder only; and fermented cricket powder only. Food was applied daily for 11 weeks. Observational and physical examinations were performed and the results of the different groups compared. The application of fermented cricket powder significantly (p<0.01) promoted hair growth compared to the intact controls. The C57BL/6 results confirmed increased growth after seven weeks when the proportion of anagen follicles had increased by about 125% and 120% in the control and cricket powder groups, respectively. In conclusion, fermented cricket powder can be seen as a promising alternative alopecia treatment because it promotes hair growth, and, given the powder's composition, trace elements such as amino acids may have contributed to these effects.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2011

Hair is an appendage of skin which protects the body from outer physical and chemical stimuli. Hair is generated from the hair follicle lying on a sunken basal layer of epidermis. Hair cycling, which regenerates hair follicles throughout the life time of the organism. Numerous kinds of factors which exist at the hair follicle have been reported to regulate hair cycling, Human growth hormone secreted from pituitary gland, initially demonstrated to accelerate organ's growth, has been reported to play a role in the biology of organ size determination. We investigated the effect of 6-histidines residues tagged at amino-terminus of human growth hormone using light and electronmicroscopic methods. Human growth hormone encapsulated in nano-liposome (LhGH) was used to find how LhGH affects hair follicle cycling of mouse (C57BL6/CrN). Distilled water as a negative control, 3% Minoxidil as a positive control, and LhGH were applied to mouse for weeks. LhGH increased the number of exposed hairs per given areas ($1mm^2$). This result was also confirmed using a different breed of mice which show natural hair loss in an old age (about 17 months after birth). When LhGH was applied for 3 weeks after natural hair loss, natural hair loss on these mice was prevented, However, the control group mice on which LhGH was not applied showed further hair loss. This result indicates that LhGH may stimulate hair cycling of mouse. In clusion, it is cleat that the LhGH increased the number of hair on mice and help the depilated skin to grow new hair follicles again.