Hair today, not tomorrow: Japanese researchers find stem cells for hair regeneration

Japanese scientists have identified stem cells vital for hair regeneration, with the aim of initiating clinical research to apply these cells to the treatment of male pattern baldness.

According to an article published online in the British journal Scientific Reports, Takashi Tsuji, team leader of the Riken government research institute, and his colleagues established in vitro culture systems and discovered, through functional analysis, that the stem cells were positive for the CD34 antibody and integrin. alpha 6 and beta 5, two adhesive proteins, play an important role in the continued regeneration of hair with a glycoprotein called tenascin.

“Hair or tooth loss is not life threatening, but it negatively affects the quality of life,” Tsuji said. “I hope to start a clinical study soon.”

Biotech startup Organ Technologies Inc. had led the preparatory work for the study launch with partners until work was put on hold last fall mainly due to the resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic.

Riken is now soliciting donations and looking for partner companies to carry out regenerative medicine for those who have lost their hair and teeth.

In the clinical research planned to cure male pattern baldness, Tsuji’s team plans to grow hair follicles taken from people with the disease using a method she developed in 2007, and then implant the cultured cells into their head.