Re-activation of Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway in Hair Follicle Stem Cells in Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

Hair loss is a common hair disorder in human population. It affects quality of life and there are ongoing attempts to find permanent treatment for this condition. But, today there is no completely safe and protective treatment for all. Hair follicle stem cells are alive, but quiescence in androgenetic alopecia and are potentially active and can proliferate and differentiate, then regenerate hair follicles. Currently, research is more focussed on mesenchymal stem cells, hair follicle progenitor cells, and dermal papilla cells implantation which act like hair follicle stem cells. Therefore, activating the hair follicle stem cells signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin can stimulate these cells for proliferation and differentiation and lead to hair regeneration. Nowadays, this treatment strategy has shown promising horizon to treat androgenetic alopecia. This paper reviews latest findings in treatment of androgenetic alopecia using re-activation Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in hair follicle stem cells.