Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40045204›Full record

ArticleMolecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)2025

Cholesterol promotes hair growth through activating sympathetic nerves and enhancing the proliferation of hair follicle stem cells.

Mengchen Guo, Junkun Jiang, Anke Zhang, Wenjing Yu, Xin Huang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. CRISPR-MediatedCells · 2026
    Article
  2. Biology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mengchen Guo *Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Hair Medical Center of Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China.
Junkun Jiang *Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Anke Zhang *Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang Universtity, Hangzhou, China.
Wenjing YuDepartment of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Xin HuangDepartment of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Hair Medical Center of Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China. alida_huang@163.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82073452Natural Foundation Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission 17ZR1426300Shanghai General Hospital Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Special Project ZHYY-ZXYJHZX-202002Shanghai Hospital Development Center Foundation SHDC12024144Shanghai Outstanding Young Medical Talent Training Funding Program,Clinical Research Plan of SHDC SHDC22022302Shanghai Tongji Hospital Clinical "Five New" Innovation R&D Project ITJ(ZD)2306Shanghai Tongji Hospital Clinical Research and Cultivation Key Project ITJ(ZD)1903
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The regulatory mechanisms by which cholesterol influences hair regeneration remain incompletely understood. This study investigates the effects of cholesterol on hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) proliferation and hair regeneration, with a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms. Subcutaneous cholesterol injections in C57BL/6 mice significantly enhanced hair regeneration by promoting HFSCs proliferation. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining revealed a greater number of hair follicles in the anagen phase in the cholesterol-treated group compared to controls. Immunofluorescence (IF) and BrdU labeling further confirmed that cholesterol significantly stimulated HFSCs proliferation. Mechanistically, cholesterol activated the PKA signaling pathway, leading to the phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) at the serine 40 residue, which subsequently stimulated the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). SNS activation enhanced HFSCs proliferation and increased the proportion of hair follicles in the anagen phase. Furthermore, sympathetic nerve ablation significantly attenuated the hair regeneration-promoting effects of cholesterol, highlighting the critical regulatory role of SNS in this process. These findings provide key insights into the molecular mechanisms by which cholesterol regulates hair regeneration via the PKA-tyrosine hydroxylase-SNS pathway. Moreover, they suggest potential therapeutic applications targeting cholesterol-mediated signaling pathways to promote hair regeneration.

Indexed as

CholesterolHairHair FollicleStem CellsSympathetic Nervous SystemAnimalsCell ProliferationCyclic AMP-Dependent Protein KinasesMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLRegenerationSignal TransductionTyrosine 3-MonooxygenaseCholesterolCyclic AMP-Dependent Protein KinasesTyrosine 3-MonooxygenaseCholesterolHair follicle regenerationHair follicle stem cellsSympathetic nervous system

Identifiers

PMID40045204
PMCPMC11883958

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.