Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) , and Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFb) are inflammatory messengers (cytokines), locally initiated by DHT, along with Janus Kinase (JAK- which transduces cytokine signals) that have been conclusively shown to induce the hair miniaturization process seen in MPB.
J Invest Dermatol. 2012 Jan;132(1):43-9. doi: 10.1038/jid.2011.274. Epub 2011 Sep 1.
Dihydrotestosterone-inducible IL-6 inhibits elongation of human hair shafts by suppressing matrix cell proliferation and promotes regression of hair follicles in mice.
Kwack MH1, Ahn JS, Kim MK, Kim JC, Sung YK
Abstract
Autocrine and paracrine factors are produced by balding dermal papilla (DP) cells following dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-driven alterations and are believed to be key factors involved in male pattern baldness. Herein we report that the IL-6 is upregulated in balding DP cells compared with non-balding DP cells. IL-6 was upregulated 3 hours after 10-100 nM DHT treatment, and ELISA showed that IL-6 was secreted from balding DP cells in response to DHT. IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and glycoprotein 130 (gp130) were expressed in follicular keratinocytes, including matrix cells. Recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6) inhibited hair shaft elongation and suppressed proliferation of matrix cells in cultured human hair follicles. Moreover, rhIL-6 injection into the hypodermis of mice during anagen caused premature onset of catagen. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that DHT-inducible IL-6 inhibits hair growth as a paracrine mediator from the DP.
There are fortunately natural compounds that act directly on these specific hair miniturizng, cytokines. We have published several articles in prior updates that detailed the cytokine neutralizing effects of Curcumin. on TGFb and TNF:
Curcumin: an orally bioavailable blocker of TNF and other pro-inflammatory biomarkers
TGF-BETA, The Hair Follicle Assassin
Resveratrol also has an inhibiting effect not only on these cytokines, but on JAK as well, which may at least partially explain why the synergistic oral COMBINATION of Resveratrol and Curcumin is documented to have significant hair growth effects in those with MPB. Aclaris Therapeutics, a biotech firm, will be launching a phase 2 trial for the use of an oral JAK inhibitor for both androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss), and alopecia areata within the next few months. Resveratrol functions as a natural JAK inhibitor, but because it is not patentable, there is no incentive by any company to invest in the cost prohibitive drug approval process for Resveratrol as a hair loss treatment.
Patent: Pronounced Hair Growth effects of a combination of Resveratrol and Curcumin
Resveratrol suppresses both IL-6 and Jak signaling pathways
The hair growth effects of Resveratrol and Curcumin were spuriously discovered by an Italian team of rsearchers several years ago, investigating the effects of this combination on prostate function. An ever accumulating body of research continues to reveal the actual mechanisms of action by which this unusually potent synergistic combination reverses the course of Androgenetic Alopecia. To obtain these hair growth effects, we recommend taking 1 capsule a day each of both Optimized Resveratrol and Super BioCurcumin.