Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40518527›Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2025

Therapeutic potential of isoproterenol in androgenetic alopecia: activation of hair follicle stem cells via the PI3K/AKT/β-Catenin signaling pathway.

Jiarui Zhang, Jinxing Peng, Zhexiang Fan, Hailin Wang, Lihong Wen, Yong Miao, Yu Chai, Zhiqi Hu, Ruosi Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. CRISPR-MediatedCells · 2026
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4 · The record

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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

9 authors.

Jiarui Zhang *Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jinxing Peng *Department of Cardiac Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Zhexiang Fan *Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Hailin Wang *Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Lihong WenDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong, China.
Yong MiaoDepartment of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Yu ChaiDepartment of Traumatic Orthopedics Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. chaiyucrs@hotmail.com.
Zhiqi HuDepartment of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. huzhiqidr163@i.smu.edu.cn.
Ruosi ChenDepartment of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. crs@smu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0405-2954

Funding

Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Project 202102020155National Natural Science Foundation of China 82102353Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province 2020A1515110037Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province 2021A1515012150
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAndrogenetic alopecia (AGA) is characterized by the depletion or dormancy of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs), leading to hair thinning and miniaturization. Reactivating the dormant HFSCs is a promising therapeutic approach. Adrenergic β2 receptor (ADRB2) activation has been shown to promote hair growth in animal models via the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway, but its potential for treating clinical AGA patients remains unexamined.

methodsWe investigated the role of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in AGA pathogenesis, focusing on the hair follicle-sympathetic nerve axis. The ADRB2 agonist, isoproterenol (ISO), was administered to assess its effects on AGA hair follicle organ culture model and HFSC proliferation. The mechanisms underlying these effects were explored by analyzing the PI3K/AKT/β-Catenin pathway.

resultsOur results showed abnormal PI3K/AKT pathway expression in AGA hair follicles, with associated defects in the hair follicle-sympathetic nerve axis. ISO treatment accelerated AGA hair follicle growth and promoted the proliferation of HFSC. Mechanistically, ISO facilitated the HFSC activation by modulating the PI3K/AKT/β-Catenin pathway.

conclusionsISO effectively promotes hair growth in both animal models and AGA patients. ISO stimulating the proliferation of dormant cell population enriched in HFSC. This process was likely mediated by the PI3K/AKT/β-Catenin pathway. These findings provide novel insights into the reactivation of HFSCs and suggest that adrenergic signaling stimulation may be a promising strategy for managing hair loss.

Indexed as

AlopeciaHair FollicleIsoproterenolPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktStem CellsAnimalsbeta CateninCell ProliferationHumansMaleMiceSignal Transductionbeta CateninIsoproterenolPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktAndrogenetic alopeciaClinical trialHair follicle stem cellHair regrowthIsoproterenolPI3K/AKT/β-catenin signaling

Identifiers

PMID40518527
PMCPMC12168277

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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.