Hair Regeneration Success in Experiments Using Mice: "Aiming for Application to Treat Alopecia"

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

毛の再生 マウス使った実験で成功 “脱毛症治療に応用目指す”

2026年2月25日午後5時20分

サイエンス

毛の再生に必要な3種類の細胞を特定し、マウスを使った実験で実際に毛を再生することに成功したとする研究成果を理化学研究所などのグループがまとめました。グループは脱毛症の治療への応用を目指すとしています。

理化学研究所の辻孝客員主管研究員らのグループは、これまでにマウスの皮膚から採取した2種類の細胞を使って、髪の毛を作り出す「毛包」という器官のもとを作製しています。

しかし、毛を生やすには皮膚に移植する必要があり、グループはほかにも発毛に関係する細胞があるとみてマウスの皮膚の細胞を詳しく解析しました。

その結果、ABM細胞という毛穴の近くから採取した細胞に、毛包を成長させ発毛を促す働きがあることを突きとめたということです。

この細胞と毛包のもとを作る2種類の細胞を大人のマウスから採取して一緒に培養したところ、1センチほどの毛が生え数週間ほどで生え替わったということです。

グループによりますと、薄毛などの脱毛症に悩む人は国内で2000万人以上いるとされますが、治療は毛が細くなるのを抑える薬などに限られるということで、グループは今後ヒトの細胞でも研究を進め、体の外で毛包と毛を作り出して患者に移植する臨床研究を行いたいとしています。

辻客員主管研究員は「髪の毛を毛包ごと移植できれば症状の重い人でも治療できる可能性がある。ヒトにも同様の細胞があり、実用化に向けて研究を進めたい」と話していました。

Translation

Hair Regeneration Success in Experiments Using Mice: "Aiming for Application to Treat Alopecia"

Science

A group including the RIKEN Institute had reported successful research results in identifying three types of cells necessary for hair regeneration, and successfully regenerating hair in experiments using mice. The group aimed to apply this to the treatment of alopecia.

A group led by Takashi Tsuji, an honorary supervising researcher at the RIKEN Institute who had previously used two types of cells extracted from mouse skin to create the base of “hair follicles” which were organs that produced hair.

However, hair growth required transplantation into the skin to grow. The group suspected that there were other cells involved in hair growth, so they conducted detailed analysis of mouse skin cells.

As a result, they discovered that ABM cells, cells extracted from near hair follicles, had the function of growing hair follicles and promoting hair growth.

When these cells, cultured together with two types of cells which formed the base of hair follicles that were extracted from adult mice, the hair grew about 1 cm and was then regenerated in a few weeks’ time. 

According to the group, it was said that there were more than 20 million people in Japan who were suffering from alopecia such as thinning hair, but treatments were limited to medications that controlled hair thinning. Therefore, the group planned to continue their research using human cells, and conduct clinical research to create hair follicles and hair outside human body and transplant them into patients.

Tsuji said, "If we can transplant hair along with its follicles, it may be possible to treat even people with severe symptoms. Human also have similar cells, and we would like to continue our research with the aim to put this into practical use."

So, a group from the RIKEN Institute has reported success in identifying three types of cells necessary for hair regeneration and successfully regenerating hair in experiments using mice cells. The group aims to use their finding to treat alopecia.

Note:

1. Hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, refers to a loss of hair from part of the head or body. Typically, at least the head is involved. The severity of hair loss can vary from a small area to the entire body. (Wikipedia)

2.  RIKEN ​is a large natural sciences research institute in Japan. Founded in 1917, it now has approximately 3000 scientists on seven campuses across Japan, the main one in Wako, just outside Tokyo. RIKEN is an Independent Administrative Institution whose formal name in Japanese is 理化学研究所 (Rikagaku Kenkyūjo) and in English is The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research. (Wikipedia)

3. Takashi Tsuji（つじ たかし） (辻 孝) is the honorary member of the group. He is a Japanese Life Science Researcher doing research activities at the RIKEN Institute (RIKEN). (ChatGPT)