Exogenous IGF-1 promotes hair growth by stimulating cell proliferation and down regulating TGF-β1 in C57BL/6 mice in vivo

Growth Horm IGF Res. 2014 Apr-Jun;24(2-3):89-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ghir.2014.03.004. Epub 2014 Mar 30.

Abstract

Objective: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) increases the growth of cultured hair follicles and plays a role in regulating hair migration during the development of hair follicles in transgenic mice. However, the exogenous effect of IGF-1 on hair growth in wild-type mice has not been reported. In the present study, we examined whether IGF-1 was an important regulator of hair follicle growth in wide-type mice in vivo.

Design: C57BL/6 mice were injected with different concentrations of IGF-1 on dorsal skin. The treated tissues were analyzed by immunoassay methods for TGF-β1 and BrdU.

Results: Local injection of IGF-1 increased hair follicle number and prolonged the growing phase during the transition from anagen to telogen. Meanwhile, immunology analyses revealed that IGF-1 also stimulated the proliferation of follicle cells in anagen of the matrix and down regulated TGF-β1 expression in hair follicles.

Conclusions: These observations suggest that IGF-1 is an effective stimulator of hair follicle development in wide-type mice in vivo and may be a promising drug candidate for baldness therapy.

Keywords: Black pigmentation; BrdU; Cell proliferation; IGF- 1; TGF-β1; Wild-type mouse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Hair / drug effects*
  • Hair / growth & development*
  • Hair Follicle / drug effects
  • Hair Follicle / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I