Adenosine stimulates growth of dermal papilla and lengthens the anagen             phase by increasing the cysteine level via fibroblast growth factors 2 and 7 in             an organ culture of mouse vibrissae hair follicles.
Hair regression and balding are distressing concerns for an increasing number             of people due to changes in lifestyle and serious nutritional imbalances. Therapies             for treatment of hair loss are needed. Among potential therapeutics, adenosine             has been suggested as a potent regulator of hair growth. In this study, we investigated             the effects of adenosine on hair follicles and dermal papilla (DP) cells, and             the mechanism underlying the action of adenosine. Hair follicles are organs, including             DP cells, that are responsible for the production of hair fibers by inducing and             maintaining the hair growth phase (anagen). In a culture of DP cells in vitro,             adenosine stimulated proliferation of DP cells by increasing thymidine uptake.             Subsequently, adenosine activated and elongated the anagen phase by increasing             the uptake of radiolabeled cysteine in an organ culture of mouse vibrissae hair             follicles. We also confirmed that adenosine promoted the expression of several             growth factors that are responsible for hair growth, including fibroblast growth             factors (FGF)-7, FGF-2, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and vascular endothelial             growth factor (VEGF) in a cDNA microarray with semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Transcriptional             activation of β-catenin in DP cells was increased by adenosine in a luciferase             assay. β-catenin is a co-activator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling that induces morphogenesis             and differentiation of hair follicles and also acts to transactivate downstream             signaling pathways, including the ERK pathway. Using Western blotting, we found             that adenosine stimulated phosphorylation of ERK, CREB and AKT. These results             suggest that adenosine stimulates growth of hair follicles by triggering the expression             of growth factors and β-catenin, and by inducing their downstream target signaling             pathways.
Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry and Immunology, College                     of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk,                     Republic of Korea.
Kyung-A
KA
Hwang
Yul-Lye
YL
Hwang
Min-Ho
MH
Lee
Na-Ri
NR
Kim
Seok-Seon
SS
Roh
Young
Y
Lee
Chang Deok
CD
Kim
Jeung-Hoon
JH
Lee
Kyung-Chul
KC
Choi
D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D020405:Dermis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000166:cytology; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D051176:beta Catenin; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D000241:Adenosine; D003545:Cysteine; D013936:Thymidine