Induction of hair growth by insulin-like growth factor-1 in 1,763 MHz radiofrequency-irradiated hair follicle cells

PLoS One. 2011;6(12):e28474. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028474. Epub 2011 Dec 2.

Abstract

Radiofrequency (RF) radiation does not transfer high energy to break the covalent bonds of macromolecules, but these low energy stimuli might be sufficient to induce molecular responses in a specific manner. We monitored the effect of 1,763 MHz RF radiation on cultured human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) by evaluating changes in the expression of cytokines related to hair growth. The expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA in hDPCs was significantly induced upon RF radiation at the specific absorption rate of 10 W/kg, which resulted in increased expression of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) and cyclin D1 (CCND1) proteins and increased phosphorylation of MAPK1 protein. Exposure to 10 W/kg RF radiation 1 h per day for 7 days significantly enhanced hair shaft elongation in ex vivo hair organ cultures. In RF-exposed follicular matrix keratinocytes in the hair bulb, the expression of Ki-67 was increased, while the signal for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling was reduced. From these results, we suggest that 1,763 MHz RF exposure stimulates hair growth in vitro through the induction of IGF-1 in hDPCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cyclin D1 / biosynthesis
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Genetic Markers
  • Hair Follicle / metabolism*
  • Hair Follicle / radiation effects
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Keratinocytes / cytology
  • Ki-67 Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Models, Biological
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Radio Waves*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Cyclin D1
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I