Recombinant humanized collagen combined with nicotinamide increases the expression level of rat basement membrane proteins and promotes hair growth

BackgroundHair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) play crucial roles in hair growth and are expected to be potential targets in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.MethodThis study aims to investigate the positive effect on hair growth by the recombinant human collagen complex (RHC complex), compo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Youshiqi Zhou, Boyu Chen, Shijia Ye, Haoyu Sun, Shuyue Wang, Xiaozhen Diao, Wenhui Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1546779/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850160992016662528
author Youshiqi Zhou
Boyu Chen
Shijia Ye
Shijia Ye
Haoyu Sun
Shuyue Wang
Xiaozhen Diao
Wenhui Wu
Wenhui Wu
author_facet Youshiqi Zhou
Boyu Chen
Shijia Ye
Shijia Ye
Haoyu Sun
Shuyue Wang
Xiaozhen Diao
Wenhui Wu
Wenhui Wu
author_sort Youshiqi Zhou
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundHair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) play crucial roles in hair growth and are expected to be potential targets in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.MethodThis study aims to investigate the positive effect on hair growth by the recombinant human collagen complex (RHC complex), composed of rhCOL III, rhCOL XVII, and rhCOL XXI, along with nicotinamide, both in vitro and in vivo, by HFSCs and rat models. The survival rate, function, and differentiation of HFSCs were investigated.ResultsThe CCK-8 experiment showed that the RHC complex was non-toxic to HFSCs, and the cell survival rate exceeded 80% after 8 and 16 h of treatment. The ELISA method showed that the RHC complex significantly increased the intracellular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. In addition, the increase in the content of trichohyalin (a key structural protein of hair) indicates that the structure and function of hair follicles may be enhanced. The expression levels of β-integrin and p63 were significantly upregulated, which are crucial for cell adhesion, migration, and maintenance of HFSCs homeostasis. In the rat model, significant hair growth was observed after a 7-day treatment period. The period of vigorous hair growth in rats was selected for immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining analysis. The results showed that the RHC complex could promote the expression of Integrin, Laminin and Perlecan, which were conducive to maintaining the stability of the microenvironment of HFSCs. Additionally it facilitated the migration and differentiation of HFSCs, as evidenced by an increased number of hair follicles in HE-stained skin tissues. In conclusion, the RHC complex exhibited high HFSCs survival rates and enhanced the expression of HFSCs-associated factors and basement membrane proteins. These properties make the RHC complex a promising novel ingredient for promoting hair growth, preventing hair loss, and maintaining hair health.
format Article
id doaj-art-e4bcc3ef3b554f9588ebb6102e03b457
institution OA Journals
issn 2296-4185
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
spelling doaj-art-e4bcc3ef3b554f9588ebb6102e03b4572025-08-20T02:23:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852025-06-011310.3389/fbioe.2025.15467791546779Recombinant humanized collagen combined with nicotinamide increases the expression level of rat basement membrane proteins and promotes hair growthYoushiqi Zhou0Boyu Chen1Shijia Ye2Shijia Ye3Haoyu Sun4Shuyue Wang5Xiaozhen Diao6Wenhui Wu7Wenhui Wu8Department of Marine Biopharmacology, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Marine Biopharmacology, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Marine Biopharmacology, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaPutuo Sub-Center of International Joint Research Center for Marine Biological Sciences, Zhoushan, ChinaDepartment of Marine Biopharmacology, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Marine Biopharmacology, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Marine Biopharmacology, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Marine Biopharmacology, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaMarine Biomedical Science and Technology Innovation Platform of Lin-gang Special Area, Shanghai, ChinaBackgroundHair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) play crucial roles in hair growth and are expected to be potential targets in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.MethodThis study aims to investigate the positive effect on hair growth by the recombinant human collagen complex (RHC complex), composed of rhCOL III, rhCOL XVII, and rhCOL XXI, along with nicotinamide, both in vitro and in vivo, by HFSCs and rat models. The survival rate, function, and differentiation of HFSCs were investigated.ResultsThe CCK-8 experiment showed that the RHC complex was non-toxic to HFSCs, and the cell survival rate exceeded 80% after 8 and 16 h of treatment. The ELISA method showed that the RHC complex significantly increased the intracellular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. In addition, the increase in the content of trichohyalin (a key structural protein of hair) indicates that the structure and function of hair follicles may be enhanced. The expression levels of β-integrin and p63 were significantly upregulated, which are crucial for cell adhesion, migration, and maintenance of HFSCs homeostasis. In the rat model, significant hair growth was observed after a 7-day treatment period. The period of vigorous hair growth in rats was selected for immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining analysis. The results showed that the RHC complex could promote the expression of Integrin, Laminin and Perlecan, which were conducive to maintaining the stability of the microenvironment of HFSCs. Additionally it facilitated the migration and differentiation of HFSCs, as evidenced by an increased number of hair follicles in HE-stained skin tissues. In conclusion, the RHC complex exhibited high HFSCs survival rates and enhanced the expression of HFSCs-associated factors and basement membrane proteins. These properties make the RHC complex a promising novel ingredient for promoting hair growth, preventing hair loss, and maintaining hair health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1546779/fullrecombinant humanized collagenhair follicle stem cellshair lossVEGFtrichohyalin
spellingShingle Youshiqi Zhou
Boyu Chen
Shijia Ye
Shijia Ye
Haoyu Sun
Shuyue Wang
Xiaozhen Diao
Wenhui Wu
Wenhui Wu
Recombinant humanized collagen combined with nicotinamide increases the expression level of rat basement membrane proteins and promotes hair growth
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
recombinant humanized collagen
hair follicle stem cells
hair loss
VEGF
trichohyalin
title Recombinant humanized collagen combined with nicotinamide increases the expression level of rat basement membrane proteins and promotes hair growth
title_full Recombinant humanized collagen combined with nicotinamide increases the expression level of rat basement membrane proteins and promotes hair growth
title_fullStr Recombinant humanized collagen combined with nicotinamide increases the expression level of rat basement membrane proteins and promotes hair growth
title_full_unstemmed Recombinant humanized collagen combined with nicotinamide increases the expression level of rat basement membrane proteins and promotes hair growth
title_short Recombinant humanized collagen combined with nicotinamide increases the expression level of rat basement membrane proteins and promotes hair growth
title_sort recombinant humanized collagen combined with nicotinamide increases the expression level of rat basement membrane proteins and promotes hair growth
topic recombinant humanized collagen
hair follicle stem cells
hair loss
VEGF
trichohyalin
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1546779/full
work_keys_str_mv AT youshiqizhou recombinanthumanizedcollagencombinedwithnicotinamideincreasestheexpressionlevelofratbasementmembraneproteinsandpromoteshairgrowth
AT boyuchen recombinanthumanizedcollagencombinedwithnicotinamideincreasestheexpressionlevelofratbasementmembraneproteinsandpromoteshairgrowth
AT shijiaye recombinanthumanizedcollagencombinedwithnicotinamideincreasestheexpressionlevelofratbasementmembraneproteinsandpromoteshairgrowth
AT shijiaye recombinanthumanizedcollagencombinedwithnicotinamideincreasestheexpressionlevelofratbasementmembraneproteinsandpromoteshairgrowth
AT haoyusun recombinanthumanizedcollagencombinedwithnicotinamideincreasestheexpressionlevelofratbasementmembraneproteinsandpromoteshairgrowth
AT shuyuewang recombinanthumanizedcollagencombinedwithnicotinamideincreasestheexpressionlevelofratbasementmembraneproteinsandpromoteshairgrowth
AT xiaozhendiao recombinanthumanizedcollagencombinedwithnicotinamideincreasestheexpressionlevelofratbasementmembraneproteinsandpromoteshairgrowth
AT wenhuiwu recombinanthumanizedcollagencombinedwithnicotinamideincreasestheexpressionlevelofratbasementmembraneproteinsandpromoteshairgrowth
AT wenhuiwu recombinanthumanizedcollagencombinedwithnicotinamideincreasestheexpressionlevelofratbasementmembraneproteinsandpromoteshairgrowth