Thymosin beta 4 - activation of hair stem cells

[debris]

Latest research suggests that mpb is due to stem cell inactivation (same amount of stem cells but lack of more mature progenitor cells). If anyone wants to cure the hairloss they should focus on this. Thymosin beta 4 is a known peptide that is able to activate all kinds of stemcells to mature into progenitors and beyond. It also has been proven to grow hair in animal studies.

The scientists found that the male pattern bald scalp contains the same number of follicles, but they are miniaturised, their progenitors are missing, these missing cells are normaly located in lower bulb and in hair germ.

lower bulb and hair germ cells are responsible for creation of anagen hair. They are cells that get activated at the end of catagen and they form the anagen follicle that then grows the thick hair.

Because our bald scalp seriously lacks the lower bulb and hair germ cells, our hair follicles grow into only small ones, and then they grow only small vellous hair.

Thymosin beta 4 has been proven in animal studies to grow thick hair and the mechanism by which this happens has been shown to be the activation of stem cells upon which the cells mature and migrate down from the bulge to the lower bulb and hair germ areas.

Theres serious research behind this and I can provide links to studies that show the regrowth.

Thymosin beta 4 is now licensed by 2 different companies (one owns the rights for various usages where repair of body damage is needed - repair of heart etc.) and second holds the rights for hair growth. Unfortunately, the company holding the rights for hair growth is not rly pushing it to the market. They have been holding the rights for many years now. And its 9 years now since the thymosin discovery has been made.

The downside for the thymosin beta 4 is that it seems to be stable for only 3 weeks on its own and its somehow expensive as well.

Anyway, there was a case of a guy reported by Dr. Cole on this site. The guy was treated by PRP+acell+thrombin. He had a remarkable thick hair regrowth in the areas of his scalp that were quite bald. Ceratinly it was by far the best PRP/acell result I have seen. By far the best.

What is interesting is that when platelets (prp) get activated by thrombin, thymosin beta 4 is released. This is a possible explanation why this guy had the best prp regrowth we have seen so far. The exceptional amount of the regrowth can be acknowledged when we realize that this was done after one single application. This particular result is probably better than what histogen grew in their trials.

The link to the prp+acell+thrombin thread is here: http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5251

http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9947&d=1307039720

[gettothetruth]

tb4 is in Polaris NR-09. you can find more info here http://www.polarisresearchlabs.com/nr-09.php

[debris]

it seems that its not being sold anywhere

[debris]

I also somehow doubt that the amount there will be at any therapeutic amounts. The reason is that its quite costy ingredient. Its listed as auxiliary ingredient only as well. But thanks for the link

[DepressedByHairLoss]

Is this PRP+Acell+Thrombin treatment used without having a hair transplant. If I could get this PRP+Acell+Thrombin treatment and achieve hair growth without having a hair transplant, I would do it in a second.

[VictimOfDHT]

I'm seriously thinking about the PRP treatment. Im just trying to find a doctor in my area, but if I have to travel then I will.

[debris]

VictimOfDHT: If i was considering PRP, id go with Cole and his thrombin procedure as well.

PRP on its own is not giving any serious results imho. Lot of the PRP only images I have seen are just darker on the after photo, or theres a different combing.

I basicaly havent seen a single PRP nor PRP+acell example that would be showing a convincing regrowth.

the PRP+thrombin+acell is the only exception and it may possibly be due to the thymosin beta 4 that gets released after platelets get activated by thrombin.

[VictimOfDHT]

Thanks, debris. I too notice the obviously darker "after" photos. It is the same old trick. But I've heard good things about Dr. Greco in Florida. I also saw the video on youtube. It seems legit but I dont know.

[DepressedByHairLoss]

Does this involve having a hair transplant or can this treatment be done without having your head cut open?

[HairTalk]

Latest research suggests that mpb is due to stem cell inactivation (same amount of stem cells but lack of more mature progenitor cells). If anyone wants to cure the hairloss they should focus on this. Thymosin beta 4 is a known peptide that is able to activate all kinds of stemcells to mature into progenitors and beyond. It also has been proven to grow hair in animal studies.

The scientists found that the male pattern bald scalp contains the same number of follicles, but they are miniaturised, their progenitors are missing, these missing cells are normaly located in lower bulb and in hair germ.

lower bulb and hair germ cells are responsible for creation of anagen hair. They are cells that get activated at the end of catagen and they form the anagen follicle that then grows the thick hair.

Because our bald scalp seriously lacks the lower bulb and hair germ cells, our hair follicles grow into only small ones, and then they grow only small vellous hair.

Thymosin beta 4 has been proven in animal studies to grow thick hair and the mechanism by which this happens has been shown to be the activation of stem cells upon which the cells mature and migrate down from the bulge to the lower bulb and hair germ areas.

Theres serious research behind this and I can provide links to studies that show the regrowth.

Thymosin beta 4 is now licensed by 2 different companies (one owns the rights for various usages where repair of body damage is needed - repair of heart etc.) and second holds the rights for hair growth. Unfortunately, the company holding the rights for hair growth is not rly pushing it to the market. They have been holding the rights for many years now. And its 9 years now since the thymosin discovery has been made.

The downside for the thymosin beta 4 is that it seems to be stable for only 3 weeks on its own and its somehow expensive as well.

Anyway, there was a case of a guy reported by Dr. Cole on this site. The guy was treated by PRP+acell+thrombin. He had a remarkable thick hair regrowth in the areas of his scalp that were quite bald. Ceratinly it was by far the best PRP/acell result I have seen. By far the best.

What is interesting is that when platelets (prp) get activated by thrombin, thymosin beta 4 is released. This is a possible explanation why this guy had the best prp regrowth we have seen so far. The exceptional amount of the regrowth can be acknowledged when we realize that this was done after one single application. This particular result is probably better than what histogen grew in their trials.

The link to the prp+acell+thrombin thread is here: http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5251

http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9947&d=1307039720

Is that a before–after comparison? I see no marked difference, if it is: look at the way the hair is combed in the second shot.

[level]

I agree with hairtalk; these pictures are a bit deceiving. The patient's hair is obviously combed different in the second picture and I'm skeptical about the lighting. If this treatment were producing concrete, noticeable results, the improvement would be obvious and no one would be questioning the pictures. Call me a pessimist, but this stuff appears to do nothing. If science has proven that we have a constant amount of stem cells on our scalp, and if this treatment claims to rehabilitate our progenitor cells, then this combination of prp, acell and thrombin should be producing even results throughout the scalp-not the scattered, hardly noticeable "results" we are seeing in these pictures.

I'm sorry to say, but there's nothing in the pipeline that has me uber excited. Some things (i.e. histogen, acell, prp, etc.) have caught my attention, but noting has seized my confidence. I do like the paradigm shift that is occurring, but I feel we are several years away from having a viable treatment for hair loss that doesn't require surgery.

[HairTalk]

I'm sorry to say, but there's nothing in the pipeline that has me uber excited. Some things (i.e. histogen, acell, prp, etc.) have caught my attention, but noting has seized my confidence. I do like the paradigm shift that is occurring, but I feel we are several years away from having a viable treatment for hair loss that doesn't require surgery.

Agreed. I'm as eager as the next to have the almighty "cure" available within the next couple of years, but I think it's a silly fantasy, right now, that it will be in people's hands by 2014, as many were positing or hoping it would be, even into spring of 2011.

Well, if nothing else, by the end of 2011, we should hear how things are moving with ACell and plucking, and, by 2012's conclusion (though I'm reluctant to plan that far ahead, as things have a tendency to fall apart or be to be grossly delayed), we ought to know more about Histogen's H.S.C. and about RepliCel/TrichoScience.

I still wonder what's going on with Allergan's work against male-pattern baldness, using bimatoprost (Latisse).

[debris]

Does this involve having a hair transplant or can this treatment be done without having your head cut open?

I think it can be done alone. You should contact Dr. Cole to get the details though.

[VictimOfDHT]

Yup. In the second pic, the hair is combed toward the thinning area-the most common way to try to hide a bald spot. This is just stupid.

I hate to say it but it looks like there is NOTHING at the moment that can give us some hair other than transplantation. I'm just losing all hope again, not that I had too much hope to begin with.

[Follicle Death Row]

There is absolutely no difference. I said as much in the thread posted up with this "result" about a month back. I really don't believe PRP+Acell is doing anything at all. I made a poll about this a while back. I'll bump it back to the top so you guys can weigh in.

[debris]

I do agree that PRP+acell seems a bit disappointing on all the pictures, but on this one I do see some regrowth even after the combing to forward is removed from the equation.

Notice it near the top edge of the bald spot for example, or notice hair that seems to be sprouting from the bald areas

[HairTalk]

I have yet to see even one piece of photographic evidence in support of treating hairloss with P.R.P. or P.R.P.+ACell injections. This whole thing seems like either a failed experiment at cost to the patient (rather than on the researcher's dime, which is how testing should be conducted), or a simple scam.

[matlondon]

Is that a before–after comparison? I see no marked difference, if it is: look at the way the hair is combed in the second shot.

Agree the hair the 1st is combed to the side the hair on the 2nd pic is comb forward and is longer.

[VictimOfDHT]

But have you guys seen the video on youtube about Dr. Greco (also on his web site) ? It kinda gave me a little bit of hope but I'm not really that optimistic about it any more.

[level]

But have you guys seen the video on youtube about Dr. Greco (also on his web site) ? It kinda gave me a little bit of hope but I'm not really that optimistic about it any more.

Yeah, I saw it. But that video is about 2 years old. It's probably the only documented PRP case that shows vast improvement. If anyone has seen other pictures/videos of patients who have had noticeable success with PRP, please provide a link. I personally haven't seen any evidence that leads me to believe that PRP is a viable solution for hair loss. And this is coming from someone (me) who received PRP injections over a year ago.

Man, like seriously, with all the talk about PRP over the last 3 years and with all dialogue about acell over the last 18 months, there should be substantial, undeniable evidence that these treatments are working. There's been a bunch of hearsay, but nothing concrete.

[DepressedByHairLoss]

I heard that Dr. Greco has a new thing now called Orogen Plus which is a supposed improvement over PRP. I like Dr. Greco because: 1. He seems dedicated to developing new treatments for hair loss, 2. He doesn't solely focus on hair transplants to treat hair loss, and 3. He is always very responsive and informative on here and in e-mails.
If he developed something new, I would go to him.

[level]

I heard that Dr. Greco has a new thing now called Orogen Plus which is a supposed improvement over PRP. I like Dr. Greco because: 1. He seems dedicated to developing new treatments for hair loss, 2. He doesn't solely focus on hair transplants to treat hair loss, and 3. He is always very responsive and informative on here and in e-mails.
If he developed something new, I would go to him.

I heard about it too. I'm hoping the new formula is better. And I agree, Dr. Greco is a respectable doc. I just wish these treatments weren't released until proven worthy. They should definitely be testing new formulas on people to see if they can eventually connect the dots, but they should be providing the treatment for free or for a fraction of the current price.

[VictimOfDHT]

So, let me ask you this. Would you guys go for that "new" treatment offered by Dr. Greco ? I've heard good things about this doctor but I'm asking the same thing, how come we're not hearing more about this treatment ? Any body knows if it at least stops further hair loss ?

[HairTalk]

Yeah, I saw it. But that video is about 2 years old. It's probably the only documented PRP case that shows vast improvement. If anyone has seen other pictures/videos of patients who have had noticeable success with PRP, please provide a link. I personally haven't seen any evidence that leads me to believe that PRP is a viable solution for hair loss. And this is coming from someone (me) who received PRP injections over a year ago.

Man, like seriously, with all the talk about PRP over the last 3 years and with all dialogue about acell over the last 18 months, there should be substantial, undeniable evidence that these treatments are working. There's been a bunch of hearsay, but nothing concrete.

At least, with ACell, work's been going on for only less than ~one year, and one expects to hear news at this September's (2011) I.S.H.R.S. meeting. Straight P.R.P. injections seem to me to be a total bust.

I heard that Dr. Greco has a new thing now called Orogen Plus which is a supposed improvement over PRP. I like Dr. Greco because: 1. He seems dedicated to developing new treatments for hair loss, 2. He doesn't solely focus on hair transplants to treat hair loss, and 3. He is always very responsive and informative on here and in e-mails.
If he developed something new, I would go to him.

I heard about it too. I'm hoping the new formula is better. And I agree, Dr. Greco is a respectable doc. I just wish these treatments weren't released until proven worthy. They should definitely be testing new formulas on people to see if they can eventually connect the dots, but they should be providing the treatment for free or for a fraction of the current price.

I've nothing against Dr. Greco or against trying new things to address hairloss, but it's important to keep in mind all these "experiemental procedures" are at high out-of-pocket costs to the patient. Doctors seem to sometimes hide behind "disclaimers" such as, "This is wholly experimental; you might not achieve any benefit," but the fact is, if it's being offered, the patient's being told there's reason to think it might work. It's unsurpising desperate people would be willing to invest in such perceived promise.

This largely is why I think it's respectable for surgeons to refrain from jumping on every "innovation" bandwagon that comes along: doing so might annoy those who wish doctors would "just try something; stop spinning the same old wheel," but it also keeps the surgeons from looking somewhat unscrupulous.

[level]

@hairtalk-Actually, Dr. Hitzig did one his first presentations back in 2009. Check this link out: http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1057&highlight=Acell (click on the link inside of the thread). There should be several documented cases and this forum should be flooded with acell pictures, considering it's already been two years.

[level]

@victimofdht-Yeah, I would try it, but I'm going to hang tight until some documented cases come forward showing it works. I don't want to jump the gun again.

[HairTalk]

@hairtalk-Actually, Dr. Hitzig did one his first presentations back in 2009. Check this link out: http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1057&highlight=Acell (click on the link inside of the thread). There should be several documented cases and this forum should be flooded with acell pictures, considering it's already been two years.

To my knowledge, Dr. Cooley did not begin working with ACell and plucking until 2009/2010, and he did present those results late in 2010. The work he's done since should be shared later this year (2011). Dr. Bernstein didn't begin his research with the compound until, I believe, just mid 2011; of course, we can't expect a "flood" of data or pictures just a couple of months into a study.

I hope I don't come off trying to defend the merits of ACell — I don't know whether there are any. It seems to me, however, this still is a "new" product, and I thus am reservedly hopeful it can be beneficial in treating hairloss. As for straight injections of P.R.P., there's a lot less I have to be enthusiastic about. For one thing, yes, the idea has been around longer, and I don't see any positive results from it. For another, I feel it requires less experimentation: ACell is supposed to work in conjunction with surgery, and figuring out how best to administer it might require a fair amount of effort and creativity. With P.R.P. on its own, however, one more simply must work out dosing; after that, it's direct shots into the scalp, then checking for growth.

I suppose by the end of 2011, though, we all should have a stronger sense to where we ought to set our hopes.

[DepressedByHairLoss]

VictimOfDHT: You ask if I would go to Dr. Greco for this new treatment........ I know that I have to do something soon because I just can't 'accept' this hair loss. I am narrowing down where to go for either straight PRP, PRP & Acell, or PRP & Acell & Thrombin. Dr. Greco is definitely one of the three doctors that I am now considering. He has shown great respect in responding at length to all of my e-mails and I certainly trust him more than I do other doctors. It seems that some of these other doctors don't really give a shit about you unless you're interested in a hair transplant (their main money maker). But honestly, I'm still not sure. I am so desperate to do something to either stop my hair loss (besides the Propecia I'm taking), yet there are just no effective options out there. And now I'm hearing that PRP+Acell may cause some initial shedding as well. If there is something that could just thicken my hair and reverse some of my miniaturized follicles, I wouldn't even hesitate to do it. And I'd pay whatever it costs.

[HairTalk]

VictimOfDHT: You ask if I would go to Dr. Greco for this new treatment........ I know that I have to do something soon because I just can't 'accept' this hair loss. I am narrowing down where to go for either straight PRP, PRP & Acell, or PRP & Acell & Thrombin. Dr. Greco is definitely one of the three doctors that I am now considering. He has shown great respect in responding at length to all of my e-mails and I certainly trust him more than I do other doctors. It seems that some of these other doctors don't really give a shit about you unless you're interested in a hair transplant (their main money maker). But honestly, I'm still not sure. I am so desperate to do something to either stop my hair loss (besides the Propecia I'm taking), yet there are just no effective options out there. And now I'm hearing that PRP+Acell may cause some initial shedding as well. If there is something that could just thicken my hair and reverse some of my miniaturized follicles, I wouldn't even hesitate to do it. And I'd pay whatever it costs.

O.K.: you really need to step back and take a breath. I can imagine how sick you may be of hearing things like that, but, as you admit, you have no magic bullet to load, here. What you want — to stop losing hair, and to grow back a significant amount — does not exist. I'd recommend you not resort to pissing away money simply because you're frustrated and want to do "something."

Try to keep in mind, you don't actually want to do just "something": you want to do something that works. Again, besides transplantation and medical therapy (the latter of which you say you already are on), nothing has been demonstrated to do so. Paying to have things shot into your scalp that have not proved to help with your problem is no more likely to treat your balding than is your withdrawing several thousand dollars from your bank account and using the bills as kindling.

If you want to, try to think of it this way, too: you very likely have limited funds. Let's say you go out and blow $4,000.00, to-morrow, on some bogus procedure; a year down the line, then, that new gold standard in treatment does come along. Do you really want to find yourself, at that point, with as little cash in your pocket as you have hair on your head?

Go ahead and try to take that step back and that breath.

[VictimOfDHT]

VictimOfDHT: You ask if I would go to Dr. Greco for this new treatment........ I know that I have to do something soon because I just can't 'accept' this hair loss. I am narrowing down where to go for either straight PRP, PRP & Acell, or PRP & Acell & Thrombin. Dr. Greco is definitely one of the three doctors that I am now considering. He has shown great respect in responding at length to all of my e-mails and I certainly trust him more than I do other doctors. It seems that some of these other doctors don't really give a shit about you unless you're interested in a hair transplant (their main money maker). But honestly, I'm still not sure. I am so desperate to do something to either stop my hair loss (besides the Propecia I'm taking), yet there are just no effective options out there. And now I'm hearing that PRP+Acell may cause some initial shedding as well. If there is something that could just thicken my hair and reverse some of my miniaturized follicles, I wouldn't even hesitate to do it. And I'd pay whatever it costs.

I am as desperate as you are if not even more, you know. That video about Dr. Greco's procedure kind of raised my hope for a day or two but now when I think about realistically I dont feel optimistic about it at all. If it really worked as good as we're told we would be seeing and hearing a lot more about it, it would be offered by a lot more doctors, and people would be jumping on it. But that's not happening even though it's been out for a couple of years as you know, which only means one thing....

[level]

To my knowledge, Dr. Cooley did not begin working with ACell and plucking until 2009/2010, and he did present those results late in 2010. The work he's done since should be shared later this year (2011). Dr. Bernstein didn't begin his research with the compound until, I believe, just mid 2011; of course, we can't expect a "flood" of data or pictures just a couple of months into a study.

I hope I don't come off trying to defend the merits of ACell — I don't know whether there are any. It seems to me, however, this still is a "new" product, and I thus am reservedly hopeful it can be beneficial in treating hairloss. As for straight injections of P.R.P., there's a lot less I have to be enthusiastic about. For one thing, yes, the idea has been around longer, and I don't see any positive results from it. For another, I feel it requires less experimentation: ACell is supposed to work in conjunction with surgery, and figuring out how best to administer it might require a fair amount of effort and creativity. With P.R.P. on its own, however, one more simply must work out dosing; after that, it's direct shots into the scalp, then checking for growth.

I suppose by the end of 2011, though, we all should have a stronger sense to where we ought to set our hopes.

I agree-the verdict should be out on Acell by the end of the year. However, enough time has passed for there to be some visual evidence and frankly, I haven't seen any. Like you mentioned, Dr. Cooley starting experimenting with Acell towards the end of 2009 (2+ years). Also, several doctors have been offering PRP/Acell injections, claiming that it helps retain hair and thickens miniaturized hairs. As far as injecting a combination of Acell and PRP onto the scalp for the purpose of retaining hair and increasing density, there should be some evidence that we could point at and say: Aha, this is working! But there is none; not one pic that has me feeling even the slightest bit optimistic.

Perhaps Acell will be beneficial in healing the wounds created during a hair transplant. In that sense, it would be good. I just don't see anything that leads me to believe that it will increase density or that it is a "fertilizer," of sorts, for transplanted hairs. Maybe they just need time to tweak it all. I hope that's the case. Till then, I'll keep spectating.

[HairTalk]

Perhaps Acell will be beneficial in healing the wounds created during a hair transplant. In that sense, it would be good. I just don't see anything that leads me to believe that it will increase density or that it is a "fertilizer," of sorts, for transplanted hairs. Maybe they just need time to tweak it all. I hope that's the case. Till then, I'll keep spectating.

I agree. In my opinion, if ACell and/or P.R.P. are found to be of respectable benefit, it will be in producing better transplants (perhaps by aiding pluck-grafting, thereby greatly expanding donor supply), not in regrowing hair by being injected where there is none. I'm hopeful a compound such as H.S.C. or RepliCel's product will turn out to actually regenerate hair via injection, but, of course, there's no reason to suppose either will when neither has yet completed even the first phase of a large clinical trial.

[debris]

Yeah, I saw it. But that video is about 2 years old. It's probably the only documented PRP case that shows vast improvement. If anyone has seen other pictures/videos of patients who have had noticeable success with PRP, please provide a link. I personally haven't seen any evidence that leads me to believe that PRP is a viable solution for hair loss. And this is coming from someone (me) who received PRP injections over a year ago.

Man, like seriously, with all the talk about PRP over the last 3 years and with all dialogue about acell over the last 18 months, there should be substantial, undeniable evidence that these treatments are working. There's been a bunch of hearsay, but nothing concrete.

if you mean the video of the guy with curly blonde hair ... the guy had 2 HT's together with the acell prp.

that says it all.