Metformin Promotes the Hair-Inductive Activity of Three-Dimensional Aggregates of Epidermal and Dermal Cells Self-Assembled in vitro.

Introduction: Although it has been reported that the antidiabetic drug metformin has multiple extra-hypoglycemic activities, such as anti-oxidation, antiaging, and even antitumor, topical metformin also can induce hair regeneration, but the precise mechanism involved in that process is still unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of metformin on hair growth in a mouse hair-follicle reconstitution model generated by in vitro self-assembled three-dimensional aggregates of epidermal and dermal cells (DCs) (3D aggregates).

Methods: Epidermal cells and DCs were isolated and cultured from the mouse skin of 50 C57BL/6 mouse pups (1-day-old). For tracing the distribution of DCs during the self-assembly process of 3D aggregates, the DCs were labeled with Vybrant Dil Cell-Labeling Solution and mixed with epidermal cells at a 1:1 ratio. Formed 3D aggregates were treated with 10 mM metformin and then were grafted into recipient BALB/c nude mice. The biomarkers (hepatocyte growth factor [HGF], prominin-1 [CD133], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], β-catenin, and SRY-box transcription factor 2 [SOX2]) associated with the hair-inductive activity of DCs were detected in the grafted skin tissues and in cultured 3D aggregates treated with metformin using immunofluorescent staining, quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blotting. Furthermore, the expression levels of CD133 were also examined in DCs with different passage numbers using qRT-PCR and Western blotting.

Results: Metformin directly stimulates the activity of ALP of cultured 3D aggregates, upregulates both the protein and mRNA expression levels of molecular markers (HGF, CD133, ALP, β-catenin, and SOX2), and improves the survival rate of reconstituted hair follicles. Moreover, we also found that metformin increases the expression of CD133 in DCs thus maintaining their trichogenic capacity that would normally be lost by serial subculture.

Conclusions: These results suggest that metformin can promote hair follicle regeneration in vitro through upregulation of the hair-inductive capability of DCs, warranting further evaluation in the clinical treatment of male or female pattern hair loss.