Minoxidil reverses androgen-induced inhibition of endothelial cell migration promoted by dermal papilla cell spheroids.

PROIETTI, CECILIA JAZMIN; CRUZ GAITÁN, ANA MARÍA; MARTINEZ , NAHUEL; CERUTI, JULIETA MARÍA; LEIRÓS, GUSTAVO JOSÉ; BALAÑA, MARÍA EUGENIA

Amberes

Congreso; 54th ANNUAL ESDR MEETING; 2025

European Society for Dermatological Research

Angiogenesis is essential during the anagen phase of the hair cycle; angiogenic factorspromote endothelial cell proliferation, ensuring sufficient vascular support for follicular activity. Disruption of this process may contribute to hair follicle miniaturization and subsequent hair loss, as observed in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Minoxidil, a widely used topical treatment for AGA, has been proposed to modulate angiogenesis, although its exact mechanism remains unclear.In this study, we investigated the effects of androgens and minoxidil on the expression of angiogenic factors in dermal papilla cell (DPC) spheroids and assessed their functional impact through in vitro HUVEC migration assays. Treatment with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) significantly downregulated the expression of VEGF and FGF-2, two critical angiogenic factors, while the expression of angiogenin remained unaffected.Here, we observed that CM from DPC spheroids treated with DHT exhibited a significant reduction in the migratory inducing capacity, suggesting impaired angiogenic support. Notably, co-treatment with minoxidil restored the ability of DPC spheroid-derived CM to induce endothelial cell migration, despite not rescuing VEGF or FGF-2 expression levels.These findings suggest that minoxidil can enhance the angiogenic function of DPC spheroids through aVEGF/FGF-independent mechanism, potentially via alternative paracrine signals.Given the critical role of angiogenesis in supporting hair follicle function, our results provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying AGA. The suppression of angiogenic signals by androgens may compromise the vascular microenvironment required for active anagen. Although minoxidil does not restore the expression of main angiogenic genes like VEGF and FGF, its ability to rescue endothelial migration underscores its therapeutic relevance and supports further exploration of the vascular niche as a target for AGA treatment.