A group of Chiba Institute of Technology, Advangen Co., Ltd., Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, and Yokohama National University have succeeded in developing an artificial RNA (RNA aptamer) that inhibits the action of the factor "FGF5" that induces hair loss.
The FGF5 protein, one of the fibroblast growth factors, has been shown to switch from the anagen phase to the catagen phase in the hair cycle.At the end of the anagen, FGF5 is produced at a site called the outer hair root sheath, which binds to the FGF5 receptor on the dermal papilla cells to signal hair loss and cause hair loss.
On the other hand, aptamer is a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to a target protein and inhibiting its action, and is attracting attention as a next-generation molecular target drug.In this study, we aimed to develop a highly effective hair restorer by developing an RNA aptamer that suppresses the action of FGF5.
The research group has succeeded in acquiring seven types of RNA aptamers using a method called the SELEX method (systematic evolution of molecules).It was confirmed that these bind very strongly to FGF7 and inhibit the binding of FGF5 to the FGF receptor, so that cell proliferation induced by FGF5 is effectively suppressed.
In addition, since this RNA aptamer specifically binds to FGF5 (does not bind to FGF other than FGF5), it is considered that it does not act on other proteins when administered to the human body, that is, it has few side effects.From the above, it was clarified that this aptamer has a very high potential as a hair restorer.
It has also been reported that FGF5 promotes canceration in some cancer cells.The RNA aptamer developed this time is expected to be a new therapeutic agent for FGF5-related diseases as well as a new hair restorer.
