Protective effects of taurine on human hair follicle grown in vitro

• Published in: International journal of cosmetic science Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 289 - 298
• Main Authors: Collin, C., Gautier, B., Gaillard, O., Hallegot, P., Chabane, S., Bastien, P., Peyron, M., Bouleau, M., Thibaut, S., Pruche, F., Duranton, A., Bernard, B. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2006; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical industry and chemicals; Cosmetics, toiletries; Exact sciences and technology; in vitro hair growth; taurine; transforming growth factor-β1; Washing products. Cosmetics and toiletries. Perfumes; Cosmetic; Human; Taurine; Growth; Hair follicle; in vitro hair growth; Raw materials; In vitro; Sulfonic acid; Biological activity; Hair (head); Aminoacid; Distribution; transforming growth factor-β1; Transforming growth factor β1; Hair product; Protection
• ISSN: 0142-5463; 1468-2494
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00334.x

Taurine is a naturally occurring beta-amino acid produced by methionine and cysteine metabolism. It is involved in a variety of physiological functions, including immunomodulatory and antifibrotic. Taking advantage of the ability of human hair follicle grown in vitro to recapitulate most of the characteristic features of normal hair follicle in vivo, we studied (i) taurine uptake by isolated human hair follicles; (ii) its effects on hair growth and survival rate; and (iii) its protective potential against transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, an inhibitor of in vitro hair growth and a master switch of fibrotic program. We showed that taurine was taken up by the connective tissue sheath, proximal outer root sheath and hair bulb, promoted hair survival in vitro and prevented TGF-beta1-induced deleterious effects on hair follicle.