New Function of Capillary Vessels Discovered to Promote Hair Regeneration

New Function of Capillary Vessels Discovered to Promote Hair Regeneration

A joint research group led by Special Appointed Professor Kenichi Mizutani and Dr. Ying Zeng of the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kobe Gakuin University, in collaboration with Shiga University of Medical Science, Kindai University, Okayama University of Science, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Medical Corporation Shuhokukai, has discovered a new function where capillary vessels localized in specific areas of skin tissue respond preferentially to physiological changes to promote hair follicle regeneration. These findings were published in the international journal Scientific Reports on April 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM (GMT).

### Key Findings

1. Constructed an experimental system to clearly observe and quantitatively evaluate skin vascular dynamics. 2. Revealed the existence of heterogeneity, where capillary vessels surrounding dermal papilla cells at the tips of hair follicles respond more sensitively to aging and hair growth agents than other skin vessels. 3. Found that endothelial cells induce the expression of angiogenic chemokine molecules like CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) in dermal papilla cells, significantly promoting crosstalk (interaction) between blood vessels and dermal papilla cells. 4. Since this crosstalk degrades with tissue aging and topical male hormones, improving this interaction is expected to lead to new treatments for alopecia and other skin diseases.

### Background of the Research

Blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients to all cells while producing various humoral factors. Vascular functions differ across organs, and much of this diversity remains unexplored. This study focused on "vascular remodeling," a phenomenon where capillary vessels flexibly change their numbers and localization in response to physiological changes, and investigated its physiological role.

### Research Overview and Results

Professor Mizutani and Dr. Zeng observed skin vascular changes by comparing young and old subjects, hair growth and resting phases, and applying various agents. They discovered that not all capillaries respond equally; only those near dermal papilla cells (cells responsible for hair regeneration) show preferential and sharp responsiveness. This indicates that vessels near these cells serve a specialized function in controlling hair regeneration. Furthermore, by culturing dermal papilla cells with endothelial cell culture medium, they identified that the supply of the angiogenic chemokine CCL2 is key to the crosstalk between vessels and dermal papilla.

### Significance and Future Prospects

Hair follicles regulate hair production and regeneration. While it was known that aging impairs these functions and that hair growth agents help recovery, the details remained unknown. It was also known that angiogenesis around follicles decreases in advanced hair loss. This discovery highlights that the crosstalk between vascular endothelial cells and dermal papilla cells weakens significantly with tissue aging. Improving this interaction is expected to contribute to treatments for alopecia and various skin conditions.