The mechanism of activated platelet-rich plasma supernatant promotion of hair growth by cultured dermal papilla cells.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an innovative treatment of androgenic alopecia in the early stages of development, and its mechanism of action is not well investigated. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate the promotion of hair growth by activated PRP supernatant in cultured dermal papilla cells (DPCs). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Human DPCs were isolated and grown in culture with or without activated PRP supernatant. The expression of phosphorylated growth factor receptors (GFRs) in cultured DPCs was assayed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Signal pathways mediated by GFRs were identified by a human phosphokinase array. RESULTS: Activated PRP supernatant enhanced the expression of phosphorylated fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-1, platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)α, and PDGFRβ in cultured DPCs. Activated PRP supernatant activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathways that promoted proliferation of DPCs. Downregulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 was consistent with the involvement of Wnt signaling. Activated PRP supernatant increased the hair growth promoting ability of DPCs by activating the Wnt signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Autologous activated PRP supernatant promoted signaling in cultured human DPCs via pathways known to be involved in hair growth. The results warrant further study of PRP for the clinical treatment of androgenic alopecia.