Dermal white adipose tissue (dWAT) is a dynamic component of the skin and closely interacts with the hair follicle. Interestingly, dWAT envelops the hair follicle during anagen and undergoes fluctuations in volume throughout the hair cycle. dWAT-derived extracellular vesicles can significantly regulate the hair cycle, and this provides a theoretical basis for utilizing adipose tissue as a feasible clinical strategy to treat hair loss. However, the amount and depth of the available literature are far from enough to fully elucidate the prominent role of dWAT in modulating the hair growth cycle. This review starts by investigating the hair cycle-coupled dWAT remodeling and the reciprocal signaling interplay underneath. Then, it summarizes the current literature and assesses the advantages and limitations of clinical research utilizing adipose-derived therapies for hair regeneration.
Keywords: dermal white adipose tissue; hair biology; hair follicle; stem cells; tissue regeneration.
Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.