Influence of Platelet-rich Plasma on Human Dermal Papilla Cells and Its Application for Hair Development

Abstract

Background: To investigate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on hair growth, the authors used molecular biology to investigate the influence of PRP on cultured human dermal papilla cells (DPC).
Methods: PRP-treated DPC were cultured for a week. Gene expression levels of FGF-2, VEGF, BMP-2, Wnt5a, and EFNA3 were measured using PCR.
Results: PRP significantly increased FGF-2, VEGF, and BMP-2 gene expression levels in DPC after 2 hours compared to those without PRP. After 24 hours, increased expression of Wnt5a was maintained. However, there was no significant difference in VEGF expression. BMP-2 expression was significantly decreased, but that of EFNA3 did not change. There were no changes in the expression levels of these genes in PRP with exosomes removed.
Discussion: These results suggested that increased expression of hair growth-related genes in DPC activates hair follicles in the catagen phase of the hair cycle. Sustained expression of Wnt5a, and the short-term strong expression of BMP2 followed by its significant decrease suppress differentiation and cause atrophy of hair papillae.
Conclusions: PRP is not involved in hair growth but is involved in hair development.