P38 THE EFFECTS ON HAIR GROWTH OF TRIPEPTIDE-COPPER COMPLEX L-ALANINE-L-HISTIDINE-L-LYSINE-CU2+(AHK-CU) IN CULTURED HUMAN OCCIPITAL DERMAL PAPILLA CELLS
Pyo HK, Yoo HG, Choi SJ, Won CH, Chung JH, Cho KH, Eun HC, Kim KH
Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging & Hair Biology Research, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

INTRODUCTION: Tripeptide copper complex L-Alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine Cu2+ (AHK-Cu) is a growth factor for many kinds of cells. AHK-Cu is also known to increase growth factors such as VEGF and FGF, and to promote wound healing. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of tripeptide copper complex L-Alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine Cu2+ (AHK-Cu) on hair growth. METHODS: Cultured human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) were exposed to AHK-Cu (1 x 10-9 mol/L). The cytotoxicity and proliferation of cultured human DPCs were evaluated by MTT assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide). Annexin V-FITC staining was used for identifying apoptotic cells. We measured the expression of caspase-3, PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase), Bcl-2, and Bax by Western blot. We measured the length of the hair follicle in vitro organ culture. RESULTS: AHK-cu stimulated growth of DPCs. Apoptotic cells were decreased compared with control. The level of caspase-3 and PARP was decreased in AHK-cu treated group than serum-free control. In human hair follicle organ culture, the elongation of hair was increased over 155% in AHK-cu treated group. CONCLUSION: AHK-Cu seems to promote the survival of human DPCs by anti-apoptotic effects. Those results were confirmed by the decrease of the expression of caspase-3 and PARP, and by the increase of the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. AHK-cu promotes the growth of human hair follicle and also has anti-apoptotic effects on the DPCs, which may play an important role in hair growth.