KY19382, a novel activator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, promotes
hair re-growth and hair follicle neogenesis
Yeong Chan Ryu1, Dong-Hwan Lee1,
Jiyong Shim1, Jiyeon Park1, You-rin
Kim1, Sehee Choi1, Soon Sun
Bak3, Young Kwan Sung3, Soung-Hoon
Lee2, *, and Kang-Yell Choi1,2, *
1Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science
and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
2CK Biotechnology Inc, Engineering Research Park, 50
Yonsei Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
3Department of Immunology, School of Medicine,
Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea.
*Address correspondence to:
Kang-Yell Choi or Soung-Hoon Lee, College of Life Science and
Biotechnology, Yonsei University
134 Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
Tel: +82-2-2123-7438; Fax: +82-2-2123-8284
E-mail:
kychoi@yonsei.ac.kr;
sexyondal@gmail.com
Background and Purpose: The promotion of hair regeneration and
growth heavily depends on the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in
the hair follicle including dermal papilla (DP). KY19382, one of the
newly synthesized analogs of indirubin-3’-monoxime (I3O) was identified
as a Wnt/β-catenin signaling activator via inhibition of the interaction
between CXXC-type zinc finger protein 5 (CXXC5) and Dishevelled (Dvl)
interaction. Given the close relationship between the Wnt/β-catenin
signaling and hair regeneration, we investigated the effect of KY19382
on hair re-growth and hair follicle neogenesis.
Experimental Approach: In vitro hair induction effects
of KY19382 was performed in human dermal papilla cells. The hair
elongation effects of KY19382 was confirmed through the vibrissa culture
system. In vivo hair regeneration abilities of KY19382 was
identified in three models: hair regrowth, wound-induced hair follicle
neogenesis (WIHN), and hair patch assays using C57BL/6 mice. The hair
regeneration abilities were analyzed by immunoblotting, alkaline
phosphatase (ALP) and immunohistochemical staining.
Key results : KY19382 activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling and
elevated the expression of ALP and proliferation marker PCNA in DP
cells. KY19382 also increased hair length in ex vivo cultured
mouse vibrissa follicles and induced hair regrowth in mice. Moreover,
KY19382 significantly promoted the generation of de novo hair
follicles as shown by WIHN and hair patch assays.
Conclusion and Implications: These results indicate that
KY19382 is a potential therapeutic drug that exhibits effective hair
regeneration ability via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling for
alopecia treatments.
Key words: Dermal papilla cells, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, GSK-3β, CXXC5,
neogenesis