572 Olfactory Receptor 2A4/7 Activation by the Fragrance, Cyclohexyl Salicylate, Promotes Human Hair Follicle Growth and Stem Cell Progeny Expansion

Topically applicable non-drug hair growth-promoting agents are of major medical and consumer interest. We have shown that stimulation the olfactory receptor (OR), OR2AT4, by odorant Sandalore®, prolongs human growth ex vivo, slows loss in telogen effluvium patients vivo. Here, we asked whether another OR, i.e. OR2A4/7, which promotes epidermal keratinocyte proliferation, unfolds similar properties. By situ hybridization, ubiquitous OR2A4/7 mRNA expression was detected HF epithelium (outer root sheath [ORS], matrix [HM]) freshly embedded scalp skin from healthy donors, whereas protein (IF) almost restricted to infundibulum. During organ culture, induces tissue distress, up-regulated also ORS HM. When organ-cultured HFs were treated with a cosmetically agonist, synthetic fragrance cyclohexyl salicylate (CHS), this resulted delayed catagen development tendentially increased HM proliferation. Most interestingly, number CD34+ cells CD71+ transit amplifying cells, immediate progeny epithelial stem is reduced androgenetic alopecia, significantly suprabulbar ORS/HM. Since CHS promoted expanded invites exploration as novel, fragrance-based adjunct treatment for disorders associated and/or cell expansion.