Key to Hair Regeneration

About Dermal Sheath Cup (DSC) Cells

The hair follicle is composed of several different cell types. Dermal sheath cup (DSC) cells are located at the lower pole of the hair bulb in a position which surrounds the hair bulb in a ‘cup-like’ manner. These cells have been found to retain regenerative and hair growth inducing capacities.

RepliCel’s pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that cultured DSC cells are capable of directly reconstituting the dermal papilla (DP) and promoting the development of mature hair follicles. During these studies, DSC cells migrated into pre-existing hair papilla and also formed completely new hair follicles.

In RepliCel’s studies comparing cells from different areas of the hair follicle, DSC cells induced better quality hair growth than cells of the DP. Research has also shown that hair growth in regions injected with DSC cells is more evenly distributed and with the appropriate hair growth angle relative to regions injected with other hair follicle cells.

RepliCel has developed a method for isolating DSC cells. The cells are cultivated and propagated in proprietary cell culture using a special nutrient medium to increase cell numbers.

Once these cells are injected into areas of hair loss in humans, our scientists anticipate they will develop hair-producing follicles and initiate natural hair regeneration. They will also migrate into follicles that are still present but in early stages of damage – this is a rejuvenation measure and also a preventative measure against further miniaturization of the hair follicle. The new hair follicles and rejuvenated hair follicles are expected to have resistance to miniaturization caused by androgen hormones, the major cause of androgenetic alopecia.

The new cells injected are from androgen-insensitive scalp sites and as a result are less likely to be affected by these hormones. In rejuvenated follicles some original androgen-responsive cells will remain. However, the injected cells will not respond to androgens. The growth signals from the injected cells should compensate for the loss of signal from the resident androgen-responsive cells.

A clinical trial is now underway at a clinical skin center (Scientific Research Institute for Skin and Venereal Diseases) in Tblisi, Georgia, to determine the safety and efficacy of RepliCel’s cell-replication process; the first time research has been conducted specifically with DSC cells in humans. While this trial is a ‘first-in-man’, other research studies with similar human cells have revealed no adverse effects from implantation of these types of cells. Also note that because the injected cells are autologous – harvested from a subject’s own body and injected into the same subject – it is very unlikely that these cells will induce an immune response, thus reducing the risk of rejection. The company released positive results from the interim analysis of six-month data from its Phase I/IIa trial, which can be found at http://www.replicel.com/replicel-releases-positive-results-from-the-interim-analysis-of-data-from-its-first-in-man-ts001-2009-clinical-trial/.