Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 5α-reductase have been shown to be involved in the male pattern baldness of androgenic alopecia (AGA) [1] [2] [3] . It has been shown that reducing the production of DHT promotes hair growth in AGA [4] . Topically applied minoxidil and orally administered finasteride have been shown to be effective in countering the effects of DHT and reducing the production of DHT, respectively [5] [6] [7] . It has also been suggested that abnormal propagation of pathogens such as dermal bacteria and their toxins induce hair loss [8] .

We have so far developed a method to promote hair growth by specifically suppressing hair loss-inducing factors using antibodies. Antibodies are immunoglobulins produced by β-cells when a foreign substance such as pathogens enters the body. The antibodies function to detoxify or eliminate the antigens. Antibodies can also be effective externally. The characteristic “antigen-antibody” reaction usually targets only the inducing antigen. Usually, therapeutic antibodies are produced in mice, rabbits or cultured cells, and their production costs are very high.

As discussed in a previous article by the authors [9] , birds produce an antibody form, immunoglobulin Y (“IgY”), which is passed into the yolk of their eggs [10] - [15] . The antibodies have been purified from egg yolk and applied to a wide range of pathogen targets, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio cholerae [15] [16] .

The ostrich immune system is an effective producer of IgY [16] - [23] . IgY is produced within two weeks after vaccination with an antigen. Ostrich IgY is less sensitive to heat and more resistant to acid than the IgY from other avian species. The molecular weight of ostrich IgY is higher than that of mammalian IgG, since the Fc fraction of ostrich IgY is heavier. Ostriches produce IgY in large volume at comparatively low cost. About 4 grams of IgY are in each egg yolk, and an ostrich hen can produce as many as 100 eggs per year over a 55-year lifetime. Commercial exploitation of ostrich antibodies has begun. For example, ostrich IgY against dermal bacteria has been added to skin cosmetic products [20] . Accordingly, ostrich IgY against DHT, 5α-reductase, and the dermal bacteria form a promising cocktail of antibodies to stimulate hair growth in cases of AGA.

The vaccination of ostriches and subsequent purification of IgY against DHT and 5α-reductase from the yolks of their eggs is described in the authors’ preceding study [9] . As described in [23] , IgY is purified via a proprietary process from the yolk of eggs from hens vaccinated with homogenates of skin bacteria, specifically S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Solutions of IgY against DHT, 5α-reductase, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa were combined to form the active material to be mixed with base material for testing.

Except for Subject 16, all subjects demonstrated hair regrowth. Subject 16 does not have AGA, but instead suffers from Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA), a common cause of hair loss in African American women.

Photos of the subjects are presented in Figures 1-17 below.

Pre- and post-treatment hair counts per test area were also incorporated into the study procedure: in all instances but one, the subjects had a hair-growth effect about 3 months after the antibody was applied to the scalp of women (Figure 18) and men (Figure 19).

In the present study, we have further demonstrated the effectiveness of ostrich antibodies to neutralization of DHT, 5α-reductase, and two dermal bacteria in re-growing hair in the case of AGA.

Unlike the case with the oil-based material used in the preliminary study, the alcohol-based material proved to be convenient and easy-to-use. In experiments using mice, the immunofluorescent assay showed that ostrich antibodies immerse deep into the hair roots by using a base with alcohol (data not shown). It was suggested that the ostrich antibody efficiently binds to the hair loss factors in dermal tissues and neutralizes them, resulting in a hair growth effect.

Because of the limited number of subjects in the study, we realize the limitations in drawing conclusions that are too strong. However, we are more confident of the following observations and hypotheses:

· Neutralization by ostrich antibodies of DHT, 5α-reductase, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa in hair follicles has a uniformly positive effect in restoring the growth of hair in cases of AGA;

· The ostrich antibodies in a 20 percent ethyl alcohol base is extremely easy and convenient to use;

· Mechanism is explained through the combination of three known effects: 1) vasoconstriction at the follicle base prevents hair stem cells in the follicle from initiating hair growth; 2) DHT in the follicle causes the vasoconstriction; and 3) ostrich antibodies to DHT, along with the enzyme 5α-reductase that stimulates production of the DHT, have been demonstrated to neutralize DHT and 5α-reductase so as to prevent vasoconstriction.

Based on comparison with results in the published literature, we can also draw limited conclusions that the ostrich antibody approach is significantly more effective than use of minoxidil and finasteride. For example, a comparable study [6] of 5% and 2% minoxidil solutions resulted in hair count increases of approximately 30%, as compared with the 71% in this admittedly limited study.

To draw stronger conclusions, we are planning a larger study (40 to 50 subjects). The average subject age in the current study was 67. It is believed that extended periods of balding reduce the viability of hair stem cells in follicles, so there can be no effective stimulation of hair growth in those follicles. It is anticipated that subjects at an earlier stage of hair loss will have even better results than those in this study. Accordingly, an age range of 25 to 60 will be targeted.

The next study should extend to six months, with photographs and hair count measurements taken at both three months and six months. The amount of the test article applied will also be calculated to correlate usage with Norwood and Ludwig scale designations. Furthermore, we plan to confirm the usefulness of ostrich antibodies for hair growth by conducting a double-blind test using only the base without antibody.

We thank Dr. Kazuhide Adachi, and Miss Saaya Ueno at Kyoto Prefecture University for their technical supports.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Tsukamoto, Y., Hendler, B., Greenberg, S. and Epstein, C. (2019) The Efficacy of Ostrich Antibodies to Dihydrotestosterone and 5α-Reductase in the Restoration of Hair Growth. Health, 11, 1320-1330. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2019.1110101