Ann Dermatol.  2016 Oct;28(5):586-592. 10.5021/ad.2016.28.5.586.

Repeated Microneedle Stimulation Induces Enhanced Hair Growth in a Murine Model

• Kim YS
• Jeong KH
• Kim JE
• Woo YJ
• Kim BJ
• Kang H

• KMID: 2382883
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2016.28.5.586

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Microneedle is a method that creates transdermal microchannels across the stratum corneum barrier layer of skin. No previous study showed a therapeutic effect of microneedle itself on hair growth by wounding.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of repeated microwound formed by microneedle on hair growth and hair growth-related genes in a murine model.
METHODS
A disk microneedle roller was applied to each group of mice five times a week for three weeks. First, to identify the optimal length and cycle, microneedles of lengths of 0.15 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1 mm and cycles of 3, 6, 10, and 13 cycles were applied. Second, the effect of hair growth and hair-growth-related genes such as Wnt3a, β-catenin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Wnt10b was observed using optimized microneedle. Outcomes were observed using visual inspection, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
We found that the optimal length and cycle of microneedle treatment on hair growth was 0.25 mm/10 cycles and 0.5 mm/10 cycles. Repeated microneedle stimulation promoted hair growth, and it also induced the enhanced expression of Wnt3a, β-catenin, VEGF, and Wnt10b.
CONCLUSION
Our study provides evidence that microneedle stimulation can induce hair growth via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and VEGF. Combined with the drug delivery effect, we believe that microneedle stimulation could lead to new approaches for alopecia.

Keyword

Alopecia; Hair; Hair follicle; Microneedle

MeSH Terms

Alopecia
Animals
Hair Follicle
Hair*
Immunohistochemistry
Methods
Mice
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Skin
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Wounds and Injuries
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Microneedles 0.15 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1.0 mm in length were applied in 10 cycles for 3 weeks, and 0.5 mm length microneedles were applied in 3, 6, 10, 13 cycles for 3 weeks. (A) In the 10-cycle group, visual inspection of the 0.25 mm and 0.5 mm groups 3 weeks after the first microneedle stimulation revealed more prominent hair growth than that in the 0.15 mm and 1.0 mm groups. (B) In the 0.5 mm group, 10 cycles revealed the most prominent hair growth 3 weeks after the first microneedle stimulation.

• 

  Fig. 2 (A) Using the optimized length and cycle of the microneedle, visual inspection 13 days and 17 days after the first microneedle stimulation showed more prominent hair growth than that in the control group in both the 0.25 mm/10 cycles and 0.5 mm/10 cycles groups. (B) Fifty-fold magnified photographs taken 7 days and 14 days after the first microneedle stimulation showed uniform hair growth and no visible structural abnormalities in both the 0.25 mm/10 cycles and 0.5 mm/10 cycles groups.

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  Fig. 3 In the 0.25 mm/10 cycles group, (A) Wnt3a was significantly increased compared with the control group (p<0.01). (B) β-catenin and (C) vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA levels showed no significant changes compared with the controls. (D) Wnt10b was significantly increased compared with the control group (p<0.05). In the 0.5 mm/10 cycles group, (A) Wnt3a, (B) β-catenin, and (C) VEGF mRNA levels were significantly increased compared with the control group (p<0.05). (D) Wnt10b mRNA was more prominently increased than it was in the control group (p<0.01) (Results are normalized relative to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression; each bar indicates±standard deviation, *p<0.05, **p<0.01). CTL: control group.

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  Fig. 4 Immunohistochemistry revealed that expression of Wnt3a, β-catenin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Wnt10b all increased in both the 0.25 mm/10 cycles and 0.5 mm/10 cycles groups compared with the control group, especially in the epidermis and hair follicle epithelium. Wnt10b showed marked increased expression in the hair follicle epithelium in the 0.5 mm/10 cycles group compared with the control group (×200).

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