P10.134 GP4G stimulates human hair follicle cells metabolism and growth in organ culture

S. Lachgar, L.Fort-Lacoste, V.Ermosilla, M.Charvéron

European Research Center on skin, IRPF, Hôtel-dieu Saint Jacques Hospital, Toulouse, France

GP4G, or diguanosine-tetra-phosphate, a molecule extracted from zoo-plankton, is considered a precursor of ATP, and described to activate G protein in skin.

The aim of this study was to check whether this molecule can stimulate the metabolism of hair dermal papilla cells in vitro and hair growth ex vivo.

Anagen hair follicles were micro-dissected from the occipital region of the human scalp. Dermal papilla cells were isolated from these follicles and cultured. The effect of GP4G on cell metabolism was assessed by O2 consumption. 

Hair follicles in organ culture were treated with GP4G at 5%, α-tocopherol-nicotinate at 100µg/ml or 24µM Minoxidil. Growth was measured during 9 days.

GP4G increased the proliferation and the oxygen consumption of cultured hair dermal papilla cells in a dose responsive manner. The % of increase of oxygen consumption compared to the control was about +40% and +100% in the presence of 1% and 5% GP4G, respectively. 

Ex vivo, hair grew faster in the presence of GP4G at 5%. The mean growth rate at day 6/day0 was +110% for treated follicles with GP4G vs +17% for control follicles, +36% for minoxidil group and +20% for the group treated with α-tocopherol nicotinate.

The ability of GP4G to stimulate the metabolism of hair follicle cells in vitro and hair growth ex vivo demonstrates that hair follicles maintained in organ culture are able to respond to this metabolic promoter.