Dr. Ueshima, Director of Tokyo Midtown Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Noage, gave a presentation on "Clinical Effects of Dental Pulp-derived Stem Cell Culture Supernatant (SHED-CM), an Advanced Treatment for Male Pattern Baldness (AGA)"

A clinical study on the hair regeneration effects of dental pulp-derived stem cell culture supernatant (SHED-CM) for male pattern baldness (AGA) by Dr. Tomoko Kamijima, Director of Noage Dermatology and Plastic Surgery at Tokyo Midtown, was published in the May 2023 issue of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (JCD), a journal of cosmetic dermatology and human clinical trials.

[Research Objective]

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a hair regeneration treatment for male pattern baldness (AGA), a dental pulp stem cell culture supernatant (SHED-CM) derived from naturally fallen deciduous teeth, and compared it with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatments such as Zagallo and Propecia.^{※ 1}We compared the efficacy of SHED-CM with and without oral synthesis inhibitors.

[Research background and methods]

MSC-CM (mesenchymal stem cell culture supernatant) is known to induce hair regeneration in AGA patients.
In this study, we verified the following two points.
1. Is SHED-CM, a type of MSC-CM, effective in treating AGA?
2. DHT^{※ 1} Could combining a synthetic inhibitor with SHED-CM provide a more effective treatment?

First, 88 AGA patients with Hamilton-Norwood classification (HNC) I to VII, a common clinical progression classification, were examined by trichoscopy.^{※ 3}and then trichoscopy, which statistically correlates with HN C.^{※ 3}factors were explored.
After screening by visual examination and blood test, 33 patients underwent six SHED-CM treatments at monthly intervals. After three-month follow-up, clinical photographs and trichoscopy were performed from baseline (before treatment) to nine months.^{※ 3}Images were used to assess and analyze the condition of the hair.

*1 A type of male hormone that is said to be closely related to AGA.
*2 Title of the paper: Trichoscopic evaluation of dental pulp stem cell conditioned media for androgenic alopecia
*3 Trichoscopy is a non-invasive examination method used to evaluate hair condition. It is used to measure hair density, diameter, and growth patterns.

[Research Supervisor]

In this study, we discovered 3QTF, which reflects the clinical profile of AGA from various measurements, and used a unique diagnostic score system to verify the therapeutic effects of SHED-CM, an advanced treatment aimed at hair regeneration. As a result, SHED-CM was able to measure the severity of the patient and DHT^{※ 1}We found that it was effective when used in combination with synthetic inhibitors and regardless of age.

Since AGA treatment takes time to produce visible improvements, it is important to maintain the motivation of patients. The 3QTF score, which can capture changes in hair in more detail than commonly used evaluation methods, and the "Visualization of Hair Indicators" that graphs the score, allow both patients and doctors to understand the current situation more easily, which is believed to increase patients' motivation to undergo treatment.

In this study, the 25% of patients for whom SHED-CM was ineffective may have their 3QTF scores improved by combining the treatment with other treatments, such as cell transplantation. It is hoped that applying this scoring system will make it possible to provide optimal treatment methods for each patient.

<Reference information: Test method>
Subjects: 33 patients with male pattern baldness* (average age 50.7 years old)
*Patients visiting Noage Dermatology and Plastic Surgery at Tokyo Midtown
Test period: 9 months
Product used: SHED-CM
Measurement method: A scoring system using overall images of the top of the head and enlarged images taken with a dermatoscope (tricoscopy images) was combined to verify effectiveness.

<Reference materials>
Traditional AGA treatment evaluation methods are mainly based on two things:

• 1. Hamilton-Norwood Classification: A seven-stage assessment of the progression of hair loss
• 2. Clinical (tricoscopy) evaluation of hair: Evaluate the condition of the hair by measuring hair diameter, hair density, etc.

These evaluation methods are used to evaluate the effectiveness of AGA treatments, but they have some drawbacks. The Hamilton-Norwood classification is subjective and may not be reproducible due to factors such as hairstyle. Clinical (tricoscopy) evaluation of hair measures hair diameter and density, but it has been found that hair density does not necessarily reflect the progression of the disease.

The hair evaluation method using 3QTF used in this study analyzes hair images and objectively evaluates the effectiveness of treatment, and is considered to be more reproducible and reliable than conventional evaluation methods. Furthermore, the hair evaluation method using the 3QTF score used in this study was statistically shown to correlate with the Hamilton-Norwood classification. From the above, the 3QTF score system is considered to be a reliable method that can also be applied to evaluate the effectiveness of AGA treatment.

>>For more information about this research, please see the press release
https://www.amcare.co.jp/news/uploads/pr_release_kamishima_amc20230612.pdf

*The content of this page is current as of July 2023, 6.