Regulatory Effect of Cannabidiol (CBD) on Decreased β-Catenin Expression in Alopecia Models by Testosterone and PMA Treatment in Dermal Papilla Cells

Objectives: The hair follicle is composed of more than 20 kinds of cells, and mesoderm derived dermal papilla cells and keratinocytes cooperatively contribute hair growth via Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. We are to investigate beta-catenin expression and regulatory mechanism by CBD in alopecia hair tissues and dermal papilla cells. Methods: We performed structural and anatomical analyses on alopecia patients derived hair tissues using microscopes. Pharmacological effect of CBD was evaluated by beta-catenin expression using RT-PCR and immunostaining experiment. Results: Morphological deformation and loss of cell numbers in hair shaft were observed in alopecia hair tissues. IHC experiment showed that loss of beta-catenin expression was shown in inner shaft of the alopecia hair tissues, indicating that beta-catenin expression is a key regulatory function during alopecia progression. Consistently, beta-catenin expression was decreased in testosterone or PMA treated dermal papilla cells, suggesting that those treatments are referred as a model on molecular mechanism of alopecia using dermal papilla cells. RT-PCR and immunostaining experiments showed that beta-catenin expression was decreased in RNA level, as well as decreased beta-catenin protein might be resulted from ubiquitination. However, CBD treatment has no changes in gene expression including beta-catenin, but the decreased beta-catenin expression by testosterone or PMA was restored by CBD pretreatment, suggesting that potential regulatory effect on alopecia induction of testosterone and PMA. Conclusion: CBD might have a modulating function on alopecia caused by hormonal or excess of signaling pathway, and be a promising application for on alopecia treatment.

Automated summary

This study investigated the expression and regulatory mechanism of beta-catenin by CBD in alopecia hair tissues and dermal papilla cells. It was found that beta-catenin expression plays a key role in regulating alopecia progression. CBD may have a modulating effect on alopecia caused by hormonal factors or excess signaling pathways.