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Enhancing the Angiogenic and Proliferative Capacity of Dermal Fibroblasts with Mulberry (Morus alba. L) Root Extract

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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Background:

Enhancing blood flow and cell proliferation in the hair dermis is critical for treating hair loss. This study was designed to aid the development of alternative and effective solutions to overcome alopecia. Specifically, we examined the effects of Morus alba. L root extract (MARE, which has been used in traditional medicine as a stimulant for hair proliferation) on dermal fibroblasts and other cell types found in the epidermis.

Methods:

We first optimized the concentration of MARE that could be used to treat human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) without causing cytotoxicity. After optimization, we focused on the effect of MARE on HDFs since these cells secrete paracrine factors related to cell proliferation and angiogenesis that affect hair growth. Conditioned medium (CM) derived from MARE-treated HDFs (MARE HDF-CM) was used to treat human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs).

Results:

Concentrations of MARE up to 20 wt% increased the expression of proliferative and anti-apoptotic genes in HDFs. MARE HDF-CM significantly improved the tubular structure formation and migration capacity of HUVECs. Additionally, MARE HDF-CM treatment upregulated the expression of hair growth-related genes in HFDPCs. CM collected from MARE-treated HDFs promoted the proliferation of HFDPCs and the secretion of angiogenic paracrine factors from these cells.

Conclusion:

Since it can stimulate the secretion of pro-proliferative and pro-angiogenic paracrine factors from HDFs, MARE has therapeutic potential as a hair loss preventative.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. NRF-2021R1A4A1032782). This research was also supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (NRF-2018M3A9E2023255 and NRF-2019R1C1C1007384).

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  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 16419, Republic of Korea

    Jisoo Im, Jiyu Hyun, Sung-Won Kim & Suk Ho Bhang

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Correspondence to Suk Ho Bhang.

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Im, J., Hyun, J., Kim, SW. et al. Enhancing the Angiogenic and Proliferative Capacity of Dermal Fibroblasts with Mulberry (Morus alba. L) Root Extract. Tissue Eng Regen Med 19, 49–57 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-021-00404-6

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