Photobiomodulation promotes hair regeneration in injured skin by enhancing migration and exosome secretion of dermal papilla cells

Abstract The application of photobiomodulation (PBM) in regenerative medicine has expanded to the treatment of alopecia caused by various reasons. However, the mechanisms responsible for its effects are poorly understood. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of PBM on hair regeneration in injured skin and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The scratched epidermis or dermis models were established in C57 mice aged 7–8 weeks. We found that the scratched epidermis had no influence on hair regeneration, but the scratched dermis led to obvious hair follicle atrophy and significantly influenced hair regeneration. The wounds in scratched dermis models were treated with PBM (655 nm, 3 J/cm 2 [10 min]) and the hair regeneration and cell proliferation in hair follicle were evaluated. Compared with control, the hair coverage level was significantly enhanced after PBM treatment. Sox9 + and PCNA + cells in hair follicle were obviously observed in PBM‐treated group, but not in control. In vitro, the effects of PBM on the function of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) were investigated. The results showed that the migration of DPCs was increased significantly by PBM (655 nm, 3 J/cm 2 [10 min]), whereas no effect was found on proliferation. Furthermore, we found that PBM promoted exosome secretion of DPCs, accompanied by the activation of Akt/GSK‐3β/β‐catenin pathway. AKT inhibitor MK‐2206 effectively blocked PBM‐induced migration and exosome secretion of DPCs. These findings suggest that the enhanced migration and exosome secretion of DPCs mediated by the Akt/GSK‐3β/β‐catenin pathway were responsible for the promotion of hair regeneration in injured skin by PBM.