Thymosin beta 4 induces hair growth via stem cell migration and differentiation.
Thymosin beta 4 is a small 43-amino-acid molecule that has multiple biological activities, including promotion of cell migration angiogenesis, cell survival, protease production, and wound healing. We have found that thymosin beta 4 promotes hair growth in various rat and mice models including a transgenic thymosin beta 4 overexpressing mouse. We have also determined the mechanism by which thymosin beta 4 acts to promote hair growth by examining its effects on follicle stem cell growth, migration, differentiation, and protease production.
Philp
Deborah
D
Cell Biology Section, NIH, NIDCR, Building 30, Room 433, 30 Convent Dr. MSC 4370, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
St-Surin
Sharleen
S
Cha
Hee-Jae
HJ
Moon
Hye-Sung
HS
Kleinman
Hynda K
HK
Elkin
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013947:Thymosin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)