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Hair multiplication, or the act of removing hair follicles and hair follicle stem cells, cloning the follicles/cells, and implanting the cloned follicles/cells into areas of balding scalp, is one of the most anticipated futuristic hair loss treatments. Though several methods of hair multiplication have been proposed, researchers still believe isolation, cloning, and multiplying dermal papilla stem cells from the hair bulb of the follicle represents the greatest chance of true multiplication.

In a new scientific publication, researchers at Harvard Medical School revisited the role of dermal papilla cells in hair follicle function, and confirmed the importance of these cells in the future of hair multiplication treatments. Recently, recommended hair restoration surgeon and hair follicle stem cell researcher Dr. Parsa Mohebi was kind enough to review the new article and share the important scientific information in “laymen’s terms” on his blog. According to Dr. Mohebi:

Hair stem cells and their role in the future of hair restoration has been a hot topic in recent years. It is easy to understand how success in the area of hair multiplication (or hair cloning) would be another quantum leap in hair restoration. People affected by genetic baldness could have the stem cells of hairs from their permanent zone multiplied for hair transplantation.

One day, stem cell therapy may help the blind to see and the paralyzed to walk. It may regrow lost limbs and damaged organs, cure illness and even prolong life. Given this seemingly endless potential for medical miracles, it’s no wonder that balding men and women are anxiously anticipating news of a stem cell hair loss cure and the recent advent of a 3D stem cell printer just might bring that idea one step closer to reality.

Recently, researchers from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland announced the development of a 3-D printer that uses “bio ink” (a material made from living cells that behaves much like a liquid, allowing people to “print” it in order to create a desired shape) to create living, human embryonic stem cells.

According to scientists,

“The cell printer was made from a modified CNC machine (a computer-controlled machining tool) outfitted with two ‘bio ink’ dispensers: one containing stem cells in a nutrient-rich soup called cell medium and another containing just the medium. These embryonic stem cells were dispensed through computer-operated valves, while a microscope mounted to the printer provided a close-up view of what was being printed. The two inks were then dispensed in layers, one on top of the other to create cell droplets of varying concentration. The smallest droplets were only two nanoliters, containing roughly five cells.”

About 99% of cells created through this process were alive and viable for replication. These cells then have the capacity to develop into any cell type from brain tissue to muscle, bone and even hair follicles. 

This insightful hair loss information was posted on our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums: by Dr. Jerry Cooley of Charlotte, NC who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

How does ACell work? Are there any studies to show its effectiveness in hair restoration surgery?

Please see my recent update on ACell in the Hair Loss Q&A blog, “Updates on Hair Duplication (AutoCloning) and ACell: Hope For a Hair Loss Cure.

Performing full scale blinded, controlled studies on agents that might improve hair transplant results is exceedingly difficult if not impossible. To prove something is helping and that this result did not occur by chance, you need to study 50-100 patients with a split scalp design, and follow these patients carefully with good photographs and hair counts. Virtually no clinic could do this, and would you want to be one of these study patients where one half of your transplant came out looking different than the other half?

Nevertheless, we can adopt practices and techniques that are safe and scientifically sound and begin reporting our clinical observations. This is what I have done over the years with holding solutions like HypoThermosol, PRP, ACell, and liposomal ATP. Other hair restoration physicians who have also begun using these are reporting improvements similar to mine.

Whether or not hair duplication (formerly known as “autocloning“) may become a true cure for hair loss in the near future has been a hot topic of discussion since the topic was introduced by Coalition member Dr. Jerry Cooley at the 2010 Annual Scientific International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Scientific Meeting.  Dr. Cooley recently presented a brief presentation at last year’s 2012 ISHRS Meeting.  To view the highlights of his findings, visit the 2012 Annual Scientific ISHRS Meeting.

Hair Duplication (autocloning) works on the principle that a hair, when plucked properly, will emerge with its epithelial cells and follicular stem cells intact.  According to Dr. Cooley, applying ACell (a natural agent regularly used in optimal wound healing) to the plucked hair and implanting it into the scalp stimulates the body’s natural regenerative potential to create new hair follicles.  Since plucked hairs also regrow in the original site, a potentially limitless donor supply is created, providing hair loss sufferers with the possibility of restoring a full head of hair.

Below, world renowned hair transplant surgeon Dr. Cooley  presents his ongoing research on the use of ACell MatriStem for wound healing and the promising hair duplication technique.   While the below, preliminary data gives hope to hair loss sufferers waiting for hair multiplication technology to provide a cure for baldness, much more research and testing is required.

To view the entire power point presentation, click here.

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What is ACell?

This question, from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Richard Mejia:

What is the advancement in hair restoration technology if one can’t get enough hair on head? What about taking hair from the body? I heard it has helped many people like me.

Each year, the publishers of the Hair Transplant Network bring you highlights from the annual International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) scientific meeting. This year, hair restoration physicians, medical assistants and others in the hair restoration profession from around the globe came together in Paradise Island (the Bahamas) to discuss the latest advancements in medical and surgical hair loss treatments.

It’s virtually impossible to cover all topics discussed at each year’s ISHRS meeting.  Thus, below we’ve presented topics that we felt hair loss sufferers would find most interesting and relevant.

Due to the increased patient demand for FUE and advancements made over the last several years, approximately 50% of this year’s meeting was devoted to discussing the evolution and current techniques in follicular unit extraction (FUE).  This includes comparing advanced FUE to the traditional “strip harvesting” method of follicular unit hair transplantation (FUT).   Other hot topics include updates on hair duplication (autocloning) and ACell, robotic assisted hair transplantation using the ARTAS Hair Restoration System, hair multiplication (HM), scalp micropigmentation (SMP) and the safety and efficacy of Propecia (finasteride).

The below highlights from this year’s conference come from presentations and interviews with recommended hair restoration physicians Dr. Parsa Mohebi, Dr. James Harris, and Coalition members Dr. Damkerng Pathomvanich, Dr. Jerry Cooley and Dr. Robert True.  A special thanks to these expert physicians for providing this community with their feedback on the latest innovations discussed at the 2012 ISHRS meeting.

Background on the ISHRS

RepliCel, one of the biotechnology firms working toward “permanently solving androgenic alopecia (genetic hair loss)” via hair cloning, recently released updates on its newest clinical trials.

The recent clinical trials demonstrate the newest “test” of the RepliCel hair cloning or hair multiplication technique. In order to truly clone or multiply human hair follicles, the RepliCel procedure relies upon a very new and exciting area of hair restoration research: Dermal Sheath Cup stem cells.

Allegedly, these Dermal Sheath Cup (DSC) cells are regenerative in nature, and allow for the “recreation” of the dermal papilla and additional necessary components of the human hair follicle. In theory, these are the cells (or an important component of a cell system) that allow for continual regeneration of new hairs from hair follicles.

By isolating DSCs, multiplying the cells in large numbers in a special growth medium, and reintroducing the “cloned” cells back into the scalp (via injection), RepliCel hopes to become the first organization to truly offer a “cure” for genetic hair loss.

However, will it work? Can RepliCel succeed where other biotechnology firms have failed? The only certain answer lies within careful, clinical research. But what do the studies say?

During the exciting update, RepliCel released several important pieces of information: first, the initial human trials demonstrated no adverse side effects and suggests the product is safe for medical use; second, many trial participants experienced significant growth from the hair cloning procedure. In some participants, the new hair growth/density increases reached levels as high as 17.2%, 19.2%, and 19.7%. However, other participants reported density decreases/losses as high as 6.2%.  However, cumulative results demonstrated an overall average density increase of 6.2% and a positive level of growth (greater than 5%) in 63% of participants.

In an exciting turn of events, scientists from the Research Institute for Science and Technology at Tokyo University successfully grew hair from human stem cells implanted in mice. While similar projects have been attempted before, what makes the Tokyo University study unique is the manner in which the human stem cells were created and the properties the cells exhibited in the mouse model.

According to research leader Dr. Takashi Tsuji, the Tokyo University team began the process by  isolating two separate types of human cells: epithelial (outer skin) stem cells and dermal papilla cells (cells both found in the base of the hair follicle and frequently associated with the regenerative properties of hair). Next, the researchers combined these cells and created, what they termed, a “seed follicle.” Finally, the seed follicles were implanted (individually) into the mouse model, where they acted as normal human hair follicles and produced hair.

After the implantation, the mouse showed both new hair growth and the ability to regrow hair that was plucked or removed from the model. The ability to regrow the plucked hair suggests the “seed” follicles successfully transitioned into functional human hair follicles.

While this news is extremely exciting, a few lingering questions and potential complications remain. First, according to several hair loss experts, it is still uncertain whether these “seed” follicles can be amplified and implanted in significant numbers. In the mouse model, the engineered hair follicles were implanted individually, and the need to both grow and implant the grafts “one at a time” could be unrealistic in human hair restoration. Furthermore, it is uncertain how long the seed follicles can survive outside of the human body, which, again, could be a problem during a hypothetical hair transplant procedure.

In an attempt to become the first biotechnology company to offer a reliable hair multiplication therapy, RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. recently released an update on its first human clinical research trial.

During the trial, 19 individuals (10 male and 9 female hair loss sufferers) were treated with a series of Replicel hair multiplication and placebo injections in various regions of the scalp.

To assess the success of the hair multiplication injections, the researchers will analyze all injected areas of the scalp at maturation and note where new hair growth is seen.  If a greater amount of new growth is observed in the hair multiplication injection sites (compared to the placebo injection sites), then the product may have some merit in actually generating new hair.

During the recent 6 month update, Replicel evaluated the health and well-being of 17 of the 19 study participants and determined all patients were healthy and aren’t experiencing adverse effects from the treatment. Because of this, Replicel is on track to review the actual efficacy of the treatments in April 2012 and release final results in late 2013.

Check back for future RepliCel updates. To review the official press release, click here.
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Blake  – aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

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Recently, Coalition member and highly acclaimed hair restoration surgeon Dr. Bessam Farjo of Manchester, United Kingdom was interviewed by the Times of India for a lifestyle article about hair loss.  Topics discussed include advancements made in hair loss research, state of the art hair transplant surgery and hair multiplication (cloning). In the article, Dr. Farjo discusses why he chose to specialize in hair restoration and his role in shaping its future through the ongoing research and development of new techniques.

Dr. Bessam Farjo has a long history of performing state of the art, ultra-refined follicular unit hair transplantation with outstanding results. Along with his wife and colleague, Dr. Nilofer Farjo, he founded the Farjo Medical Centre in 1992. Since that time, the Farjo Clinic has become the UK’s premier center for surgical hair restoration, medical hair loss treatment and research.

Dr. Bessam and Nilofer Farjo are both highly esteemed members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians and recommended by the Hair Transplant Network. To learn about our criteria for recommending physicians, click here.

Click the image below to see the full article.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.

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