New Function of Capillary Vessels Discovered to Promote Hair Regeneration
A research group including Kobe Gakuin University has discovered a new function where specific capillary vessels in the skin prioritize the promotion of hair follicle regeneration. These vessels interact with dermal papilla cells through the chemokine CCL2, playing a crucial role in tissue regeneration. The study revealed that this interaction degrades with aging and androgen exposure, suggesting it is a cause of hair loss and offering potential for new alopecia treatments.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 21, 2026 at 15:23 (52 min after Collected)
## 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.
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.
FAQ
When was this study published?
It was published in the international journal Scientific Reports on April 1, 2026.
Which organizations are involved in the research?
A collaborative group including Kobe Gakuin University, Shiga University of Medical Science, Kindai University, Okayama University of Science, and Taisho Pharmaceutical.
Why could this help treat alopecia?
By restoring the interaction between blood vessels and dermal papilla cells, which degrades with aging, it is expected to enhance hair regeneration capacity.