A breakthrough in hair growth research has been announced by a San Diego biopharmaceutical company, signaling potential advancements in future medications. Researchers from the University of California, in collaboration with Amplifica Holdings Group, have identified a molecule named osteopontin that exhibits a correlation with accelerated hair growth, as revealed in a recent publication in the journal Nature.
The molecule, found in elevated levels in hairy moles, has demonstrated the ability to stimulate hair follicle stem cells when introduced into the skin. In experiments, the administration of osteopontin to human hair follicles in skin grafts resulted in the generation of new hair growth.
Maksim Plikus, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Amplifica, explained that the inspiration for this study stemmed from observing “Mother Nature’s own experiment” where millions of people possess moles with long hair growth. Plikus expressed optimism about the potential impact on hair loss, stating that the research hints at a potential real solution that has long eluded both physicians and patients.
With clinical trials on the horizon, the discovery of a naturally occurring process for hair growth holds promise for addressing hair loss. Plikus highlighted the complexity of the reasons behind hair loss, attributing it to a decrease in essential signaling proteins within hair follicles that normally stimulate hair stem cells. For common types of hair loss, hair stem cells often remain dormant despite being intact.
Plikus proposed a potential solution involving the injection of signaling proteins into the scalp to activate dormant hair stem cells—a strategy employed in medical aesthetics. The identification of osteopontin as a hair growth stimulant represents a culmination of a decade of research by the Amplifica team.
While enthusiastic about the potential for a universal treatment applicable to both men and women, Plikus emphasized the necessity for additional clinical studies to validate these findings in human subjects.
