Ann Dermatol.  2016 Oct;28(5):600-606. 10.5021/ad.2016.28.5.600.

Acute Stress-Induced Changes in Follicular Dermal Papilla Cells and Mobilization of Mast Cells: Implications for Hair Growth

• Shin H
• Choi SJ
• Cho AR
• Kim DY
• Kim KH
• Kwon O

• KMID: 2382885
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2016.28.5.600

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Stress is a known cause of hair loss in many species.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we investigated the role of acute stress on hair growth using a rat model.
METHODS
Rats were immobilized for 24 hours and blood samples, and skin biopsies were taken. The effect of stress-serum on the in vitro proliferation of rat and human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs), as well as serum cortisol and corticotropin-releasing hormone levels, were measured. Mast cell staining was performed on the biopsied tissue. In addition, Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction were used to assess mast cell tryptase and cytokine expression, respectively in rat skin biopsies.
RESULTS
Stress-serum treatment reduced significantly the number of viable hDPCs and arrested the cell cycle in the G1 phase, compared to serum from unrestrained rats (p<0.05, respectively). Moreover, restrained rats had significantly higher levels of cortisol in serum than unrestrained rats (p<0.01). Acute stress serum increased mast cell numbers and mast cell tryptase expression, as well as inducing interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β up-regulation.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that acute stress also has an inhibitory effect on hair growth via cortisol release in addition to substance P-mast cell pathway.

Keyword

Cortisol; Dermal papilla; Hair; Mast cells; Rats; Stress; physiological

MeSH Terms

Animals
Biopsy
Blotting, Western
Cell Cycle
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
G1 Phase
Hair*
Humans
Hydrocortisone
In Vitro Techniques
Interleukins
Mast Cells*
Models, Animal
Rats
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Skin
Tryptases
Up-Regulation
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
Hydrocortisone
Interleukins
Tryptases

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Restrained Sprague-Dawley rats as an acute stress model.

• 

  Fig. 2 (A) Effect of stress serum on cell viability of rat dermal papilla cells (DPCs), and (B) human DPCs (hDPCs). (C) Percentage of hDPCs in G1 phase, and (D) in S phase after the treatment with stress serum. (E) Cortisol levels, and (F) corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels of stress serum. *p<0.05, and **p<0.01, compared with the control serum.

• 

  Fig. 3 (A) Mast cells show a purple color after Alcian blue staining in rat perifollicular tissue (×400). (B) The mean number of mast cells at ×100 magnification. *p<0.05. (C) Relative protein levels were compared by Western blot analysis. (D) Restraint-induced stress increased the expression of mast cell tryptase in the stress group compared with that of the control group.

• 

  Fig. 4 Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β mRNA expression in rat skin significantly increased after a 24-hour-restraint. However, IL-13 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α did not increase significantly in the stress group compared with that of the control group. *p<0.05.

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