Exploring the efficacy evaluation model for androgenic alopecia using hair organoids: Transcending conventional hair research

BACKGROUND: The development of effective evaluation tools for anti-hair loss therapies is critical due to limitations in existing experimental systems. Hairy 3D skin models and hairy skin explants are not yet commercially viable, necessitating alternative approaches for assessing androgenic alopecia (AGA). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a hair-bearing organoid model derived from embryonic stem (ES) cells to evaluate the efficacy of compounds against AGA. METHODS: Organoids were cultured from ES cells for approximately 100 days until hair follicle formation began. AGA conditions were induced by treating organoids with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The recovery effects were assessed using minoxidil (MXD) and soybean embryo extract (SOYACT), a cosmetic ingredient certified for mitigating hair loss. The efficacy of SOYACT was validated through MTT assays, RT-PCR, and ex vivo organ culture. Hair numbers were quantified, and biomarkers related to hair growth, including SOX2, PCNA were analyzed via immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: DHT treatment at 1 µM significantly reduced pigmented hair numbers and decreased expression of hair growth-associated biomarkers. Conversely, co-treatment with 200 μg/mL SOYACT or MXD mitigated these effects, restoring hair follicle numbers and biomarker expression levels. These findings demonstrated the successful induction of AGA conditions in hair-bearing organoids and their response to anti-hair loss ingredients. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the utility of hair-bearing organoids as a novel experimental model for evaluating AGA therapies. The organoid model addresses limitations in traditional in vitro systems, providing a robust platform for efficacy testing of therapeutic and cosmetic interventions targeting androgenic alopecia.