title: The Success of Thread-embedding Therapy in Generating Hair Re-growth in Mice Points to Its Possibly Having a Similar Effect in Humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, thread-embedding therapy (TET) has been widely applied in Korean medicine for cosmetic purposes such as reducing skin wrinkles. An inserted thread was reported to have induced continuous stimulation, followed by support for connective tissue regeneration. However, the potential role of TET in hairgrowth has not yet been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed this study to evaluate whether TET has a hair-growth-promoting effect. C57 black 6 (C57BL/6) mice were divided into three groups: normal saline-treated, minoxidil-treated, and thread-embedded groups. Normal saline or 5% minoxidil was topically sprayed on the dorsal skin of the mice once a day for 16 days. Medical threads were embedded into the dorsal skin of the mice in a single application. Hair growth activity was evaluated by using dermoscopic and microscopic observations. Sections of the dorsal skin were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Expressions of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7), and fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5) were detected by using immunohistochemical staining. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was adopted to measure the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of FGF-7 and FGF-5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TET enhanced anagen development in the hair follicles of C57BL/6 mice. The expressions of BrdU and PCNA, both of which imply active cellular proliferation, were increased by using TET. Moreover, TET increased the expression of FGF-7, an anagen-inducing growth factor, while decreasing the expression of FGF-5, an anagen-cessation growth factor, both at the protein and the mRNA levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TET enhanced hair re-growth in C57BL/6 mice. TET regulated the expressions of anagen-associated growth factors and activated the proliferation of hair follicular cells in depilated skin lesions. Considering its long-lasting effect, TET may be a good alternative therapeutic for the treatment of alopecia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Dermatology, Korean Medicine Hospital, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Dermatology, Korean Medicine Hospital, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Dermatology, Korean Medicine Hospital, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Sol
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Classics and History, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Wook
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Longevity and Biofunctional Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Longevity and Biofunctional Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jung
keywords: alopecia; anagen; hair follicle; thread-embedding therapy