Mechanical Stretch Induces Hair Regeneration Through the Alternative Activation of Macrophages

    April 2019 in “ Nature Communications ”
    Szu-Ying Chu, Chih‐Hung Chou, Hsien-Da Huang, Meng-Hua Yen, Hsiao-Chin Hong, Po-Han Chao, Yu-Hsuan Wang, Po‐Yu Chen, Shi-Xin Nian, Yu-Ru Chen, Li-Ying Liou, Yu‐Chen Liu, Huimei Chen, Feng-Mao Lin, Yun-Ting Chang, Chih-Chiang Chen, Oscar K. Lee
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    TLDR Mechanical stretching of the skin can promote hair growth by activating certain immune cells.
    The study demonstrated that mechanical stretching of the skin could induce hair regeneration by promoting the alternative activation of macrophages, specifically the M2 phenotype, which is associated with tissue repair. Using 8-week-old mice, researchers found that a 33% strain applied for 7 days was optimal for initiating hair growth. This process involved the release of growth factors like HGF and IGF-1 by M2 macrophages, which activated hair stem cells. The study highlighted the balance between WNT signaling and BMP-2 in controlling the hair cycle and suggested that mechanical forces could be used in regenerative medicine to manipulate cellular processes. The findings pointed to a potential therapeutic approach for hair loss by utilizing mechanical forces to modulate immune cell activity and promote hair growth.
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