title: The α-lipoic acid derivative sodium zinc dihydrolipoylhistidinate reduces chemotherapy-induced alopecia in a rat model: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alopecia is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy for which treatments have not been developed. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of sodium zinc dihydrolipoylhistidinate (DHLHZn), a new derivative of the multifunctional antioxidant α-lipoic acid, to treat chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats (8 days old) were treated with cytosine arabinoside (AraC; 20 mg/kg by daily intraperitoneal injection; days 0-6) and DHLHZn (0%, 0.5%, or 1% topically applied in a white petrolatum base; days 0-12). A control group received daily saline injections (days 0-6) and topical application of white petrolatum (days 0-12). On day 12, we evaluated hair loss and histologic changes to scalp tissue for each group (n = 10).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rats treated with AraC and 0% DHLHZn cream exhibited complete hair loss; however, treatment with 0.5% or 1% DHLHZn significantly reduced chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Histological analysis revealed that AraC treatment promoted inflammatory cell infiltration of the hair follicles, but this inflammatory response was attenuated by DHLHZn.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate that DHLHZn attenuates chemotherapy-induced alopecia, indicating the potential use of this α-lipoic acid derivative as a therapeutic agent against this common side effect of chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita, 879-5593, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: Tomohisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inomata
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yoshizumi
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: Seigo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitano
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noguchi
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects; D006639:Histidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009824:Ointments; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012535:Scalp / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D009824:Ointments; C557205:dihydrolipoylhistidine; D003561:Cytarabine; D006639:Histidine; D008063:Thioctic Acid