Dual Biologic Therapy Promotes Hair Follicle Regeneration in Preclinical Study

New preclinical research suggests that combining botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may synergistically promote hair follicle regeneration through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and modulation of stathmin 1 (STMN1) protein expression. The findings, published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, offer a potential mechanistic basis for enhanced hair restoration outcomes using dual-modality biological therapies.

In this study, investigators assessed the effects of combined BoNT/A and PRP on markers of hair follicle growth and inflammation. Key growth-related proteins—alkaline phosphatase (ALP), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and versican—were significantly upregulated in the combination group. Hair follicle counts increased alongside higher expression of β-catenin and Ki-67, indicating enhanced follicular proliferation and cellular turnover.

The treatment also appeared to exert anti-inflammatory effects: levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly reduced. These findings suggest a potential dual mechanism—stimulation of folliculogenesis and inhibition of follicular miniaturization via inflammation suppression.

Western blot analysis confirmed that STMN1, a microtubule regulatory protein linked to cellular proliferation, was upregulated in the BoNT/A+PRP group. Downstream, this was associated with increased activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling components, a pathway known to be critical for hair follicle development and cycling.

“BoNT/A in conjunction with PRP facilitates hair follicle growth and reconstruction through STMN1 protein modulation and Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation,” the authors wrote.