title: A Mechanistic Model of Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a novel procedure used to treat androgenetic alopecia (AGA).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Propose a mechanism of action of PRP therapy for AGA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A thorough literature search including PRP research for AGA therapy as well as PRP research in other areas of medicine was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mechanistic model for the action of PRP on the hair follicle was created.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Platelet-rich plasma therapy stimulates hair growth through the promotion of vascularization and angiogenesis, as well as encourages hair follicles to enter and extend the duration of the anagen phase of the growth cycle. The process is accomplished through growth factor-mediated increased activation of wingless (Wnt)/β-catenin, extracellular signaling regulated kinase (ERK), and protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathways, which leads to the necessary cellular proliferation and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Medicine, University of Toronto School of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; †Mediprobe Research Inc., London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Aditya K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carviel
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000628:therapy*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D015398:Signal Transduction