Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway for Developing Therapies for Hair Loss

Persistent hair loss is a major cause of psychological distress and compromised quality of life in millions of people worldwide. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of hair loss and identifying valid intracellular targets for designing effective therapies for hair loss treatment. Whereas a variety of growth factors and signaling pathways have been implicated in hair cycling process, the activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling plays a central role in hair follicle regeneration. Several plant-derived chemicals have been reported to promote hair growth by activating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in various in vitro and in vivo studies. This mini-review sheds light on the role of Wnt/beta-catenin in promoting hair growth and the current progress in designing hair loss therapies by targeting this signaling pathway.