Protective Effect of Hydroxygenkwanin against Hair Graying Induced by X-Ray Irradiation and Repetitive Plucking
Nobuhiko Taguchi1,2, Ryosuke Kitai1, Takuya Ando1
1Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration, and Advanced Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
Abstract:
Hair graying in mice is caused by various injuries such as X-ray radiation and repeated plucking that ultimately damage melanocytes and their stem cells (melanocyte stem cells). In X-ray‒induced hair graying, injuries first manifest as a loss-of-niche function of hair follicular keratinocyte stem cells to maintain melanocyte stem cells. Thus, we hypothesized that hair follicular keratinocyte stem cells could be a practical target to prevent hair graying. In this study, we investigated the in vivo effect of the flavonoid hydroxygenkwanin, which has been shown to exert the best protection on human epidermal keratinocytes against in vitro X-ray‒induced cytological effects, using X-ray‒induced and repeated hair plucking‒induced hair graying mice models. We found that hydroxygenkwanin exerted a remarkable effect in preventing hair graying; however, when receptor Y kinase Kit-mutant mice were used, no prevention effect was observed. Therefore, we propose that Kit signaling might be involved in the hydroxygenkwanin-induced protective effect against hair graying.
Insights
Hydroxygenkwanin prevents hair graying in mice by protecting melanocyte stem cells. This protective effect may involve Kit signaling, suggesting a new therapeutic target for hair graying prevention.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Hair graying results from damage to melanocytes and melanocyte stem cells due to injuries like X-ray radiation and plucking.
- X-ray induced hair graying involves a loss of function in hair follicular keratinocyte stem cells, which are crucial for maintaining melanocyte stem cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo efficacy of hydroxygenkwanin, a flavonoid with demonstrated protective effects on human epidermal keratinocytes.
- To determine if hydroxygenkwanin can prevent hair graying induced by X-ray radiation and repeated plucking in mouse models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mouse models of X-ray induced and repeated hair plucking induced hair graying.
- Administered hydroxygenkwanin to assess its preventive effects on hair graying.
- Examined the role of Kit signaling by using receptor tyrosine kinase Kit-mutant mice.
Main Results:
- Hydroxygenkwanin demonstrated a significant effect in preventing hair graying in the tested mouse models.
- The preventive effect of hydroxygenkwanin was not observed in receptor tyrosine kinase Kit-mutant mice, indicating a dependency on Kit signaling.
Conclusions:
- Hydroxygenkwanin is effective in preventing hair graying in mice.
- Kit signaling appears to play a crucial role in the protective mechanism of hydroxygenkwanin against hair graying, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target.
