Conditioned media obtained from human outer root sheath follicular keratinocyte culture activates signalling pathways that contribute to maintenance of hair-inducing capacity and increases trichogenicity of cultured dermal cells

Findings from recent studies have demonstrated that hair-inducing capacity (trichogenicity) of cultured dermal cells can be maintained by addition of conditioned media obtained from culture of epidermal keratinocytes. In this study, we investigated the question of whether treatment with human follicular keratinocyte-conditioned media (FKCM) can result in activation of signalling pathways that contribute to trichogenicity and increase the trichogenicity of cultured dermal cells. Through conduct of hair reconstitution assays, we observed that treatment of cells with FKCM resulted in induction of a greater number of hair follicles, compared with control cells. Treatment of dermal cells with FKCM resulted in the activation of BMP and beta-catenin signalling pathways. In addition, higher levels of IGFBP-7, IL-8, OPG and uPA were observed in FKCM. Altogether, our data suggest that a patient's own FKCM would be ideal for expansion of the patient's own follicular dermal cells for cell therapy for treatment of hair loss.