title: Icariin promotes mouse hair follicle growth by increasing insulin-like growth factor 1 expression in dermal papillary cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Icariin is a major flavonoid isolated from Epimedium spp. leaves (Epimedium Herba), and has multiple pharmacological functions, including anti-angiogenesis, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunoprotective effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether icariin can stimulate growth of hair follicles in mice and the underlying mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro, the effect of icariin on hair growth was assessed by using a vibrissae hair follicle (VHF) organ-culture model. The proliferation of hair matrix keratinocytes and the expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 in follicles were examined by double immunostaining for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine and IGF-1, in the presence or absence of icariin. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) were cultured and IGF-1 level was measured by reverse transcription-PCR and ELISA after icariin treatment. In vivo, the effect of icariin on hair growth was examined by gavage feeding of icariin to mice whose backs had been depilated, and the conversion of telogen to anagen hair was observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with icariin promoted hair shaft elongation, prolonged the hair cycle growth phase (anagen) in cultured VHFs, and accelerated transition of hair cycle from telogen to anagen phase in the dorsal skin of mice. There was significant proliferation of matrix keratinocytes and an increased level of IGF-1 in cultured VHFs. Moreover, icariin treatment upregulated IGF-1 mRNA expression in DPCs and increased IGF-1 protein content in the conditioned medium of DPCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that icariin can promote mouse hair follicle growth via stimulation of IGF-1 expression in DPCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, People's Hospital of Baoan Shenzhen affiliated to Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, PR China.
authors.forename: Y-S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Z-X
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: S-E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: B-J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Z-Q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, People's Hospital of Baoan Shenzhen affiliated to Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, PR China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D034181:Epimedium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D023421:Models, Animal; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; C056599:icariin