TITLE:
Vitamin B12 Activates the Wnt-Pathway in Human Hair Follicle Cells by Induction of beta-Catenin and Inhibition of Glycogensynthase Kinase-3 Transcription
AUTHORS:
Walter Krugluger, Karl Stiefsohn, Katharina Laciak, Karl Moser, Claudia Moser
KEYWORDS:
Hair Follicle, Growth Factors, Cell Signaling
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications,
Vol.1 No.2,
June
22,
2011
ABSTRACT: Background and Objectives: Micrograft transplantation is accompanied by a transient induction of telogen in transplanted hair follicles (HF), which might be avoided by supporting the metabolic pathways of the micrograft during the ex vivo period. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has been suggested to influence HF growth and cycling in humans, but the mechanisms are unclear. Method: HFs were obtained from patients undergoing routine micrograft transplantation and were cultured for 5 days in Dulbecco’s modified Eagles Medium, supplemented with different amounts of vitamin B12. Hair shaft elongation (HSE) of the isolated HFs as well as quantitative changes of mRNA for beta-catenin, glykogensynthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and TCF/Lef-1 in HF cells were determined. Results: In vitro HSE demonstrated a dose dependent induction of HSE after stimulation with 2.5 ug/ml and 25 ug/ml vitamin B12 (6.2 +/- 2.1% and 15.4 +/- 3.8% respectively). A dose dependent induction of beta-catenin-mRNA could be demonstrated in cultured HFs after stimulation with 2.5 ug/ml and 25 ug/ml vitamin B12 (fold change compared to DMEM: 9.5 +/- 2.7, p