Doctor,
I have a few questions for you, but first............check this out about TGF-beta and minoxidil (and another negative growth factor I knew nothing about) from pubmed:
[Hair growth effect of minoxidil]
[Article in Japanese]
Otomo S.
Pharmacological Evaluation Laboratory, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 403, Yoshino-cho 1-chome, Saitama-shi, Saitama 330-8530, Japan.
The length and size of hair are depend on the anagen term in its hair cycle. It has been reported that the some cell growth factors, such as VEGF, FGF-5S, IGF-1 and KGF, induce the proliferation of cells in the matrix, dermal papilla and dermal papillary vascular system and increase the amount of extra cellular matrix in dermal papilla and then maintain follicles in the anagen phase. On the other hand, negative factors, like FGF-5, thrombospondin, or still unknown ones, terminate the anagen phase. If the negative factors become dominant against cell proliferation factors according to fulfilling some time set by the biological clock for hair follicles, TGF beta induced in the matrix tissues evokes apoptosis of matrix cells and shifts the follicles from anagen to catagen. Androgenetic alopecia is caused by miniaturizing of hair follicles located in the frontal or crown part of scalp and are hereditarily more sensitive to androgen. In their hair cycles, the androgen shortens the anagen phase of follicles and shifts them to the catagen phase earlier than usual. The mode of action of hair growth effect of minoxidil is not completely elucidated, but the most plausible explanation proposed here is that minoxidil works as a sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) activator and prolongs the anagen phase of hair follicles in the following manner: minoxidil (1) induces cell growth factors such as VEGF, HGF, IGF-1 and potentiates HGF and IGF-1 actions by the activation of uncoupled SUR on the plasma membrane of dermal papilla cells, (2) inhibits of TGF beta induced apoptosis of hair matrix cells by opening the Kir 6.0 channel pore coupled with SUR on the mitochondrial inner membrane, and (3) dilates hair follicle arteries and increases blood flow in dermal papilla by opening the Kir 6.0 channel pore coupled with SUR on the plasma membrane of vascular smooth muscle cells.
Doctor, me again.................I thought this verbiage was especially interesting: "If the negative factors become dominant against cell proliferation factors according to fulfilling some time set by the biological clock for hair follicles, TGF beta induced in the matrix tissues evokes apoptosis of matrix cells and shifts the follicles from anagen to catagen"
Doctor, perhaps when there are more negative growth factors present (like "FGF-5, thrombospondin, or still unknown ones"----I'll have to look up to see if there are inhibitors of those), the immune system may see THIS as the crucial circumstance regarding the hair, and begin to mount its attack? Or perhaps, as you have said, its the TGF-beta one.
That is very interesting stuff on minoxidil is it not? Doctor, I dont know if you have looked in the photo gallery where guys have combined minoxidil and finasteride, but men that do seem to regrow the largest amounts of hair by far.
Now, to the queries about your regimine and my comment about my experience with one of them.
I can see you are trying to counteract protien kinease C with topical vitamin E. Is your scalp reddish anywhere, or is it all scalp colored now? PKC is an inflammatory cytokine, and if youre really counteracting it, I'd imagine your scalp is that greyish scalp color. My personal note on PKC.....since I have some apple poly left and have been using it, Ive not done anything yet on that front. There is a 167% daily allowance of tocopherol in my multi also. I imagine I'd need about twice that much to counteract PKC. To be honest, Ive been plannin' on running out and getting some reservatol or Grape Seed Extract (Im getting up there in years, and its time to help my heart out anyway).
On Curcumin (and green tea).........Ive plead the case for the side-effect free experience Ive had with finasteride (have not been using it experiemtally for the past month or so) to all who will hear it. Now its your turn to laugh. I have tried Green tea extract internally and Curcumin internally. Green tea actually effects my libido, and gives me diarreah. Curcuimin makes me have diarreah, AND feel like Ive eaten some very spicy Mexican food the night before if you know what I mean. Im stickin with it (400 mgs, once a day......have contemplated two 200 mgs doses).
Also on your anti-inflammatory internal regimine, I have found that IL-1 is an inflammatory cytokine involved in the hariloss process. The only thing I have found that counteracts this in any literature is silica. Silica has been bandied about on hair forums for a long time for its mysterious positive benefit on hair. I guess this might be why.
I suppose a reservatol, curcumin, silica (and I might add some ginko biloba or fish oil to that) regimine would counteract the known inflammatory cytokines involved in the hairloss process. Doctor, I feel pretty sure that eating a young green apple a day (I read "somewhere" that the flesh of the young green apples still have about half the proanthocyanidin content the skin does) would counteract PKC and TGF-beta) still might help the hair.
I looked your pics over Doctor. I honestly see some improvement. Im glad you have brought an innovative approach to hair to the forum. I have done a little reading up on fibrosis and collagen deposition and have found that collagen has sometimes been seen damn near encircling miniaturized follicles. It definitely has to be fought. Now, I guess I'll do a little web work and see if anything counteracts FGF-5 and thrombospondin.
Parting note...............Ive been applying a little bit of bourbon to my left wrist, but less than a month. I have also been applying some alpecin shampoo to the left side of my neck. I have done both of these to see if there will be any anti-androgenic activity (less body hair) in either of these areas. Its been less than a month though. It will be perhaps three more months before I can render a verdict.
Thanks for your research on the matter of hair. Hope you can keep us updated on any new good finds you have.
