The emergence of iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells) has brought about a major revolution in the medical field.
It's said that "theoretically, anything can be made," and it's attracting a lot of attention in the field,

"I hear a lot about iPS cells, but what exactly can they create in the human body?"
"Can I already receive the miraculous regenerative medicine I see on the news at a clinic?"

It's often difficult to see concrete progress on how these things are actually being applied to patient treatment.
The progress in actually reaching a level where these treatments can be delivered to patients varies greatly depending on the organ or tissue.

We will provide a detailed explanation from a specialist's perspective about the cutting-edge hair regeneration treatment offered at Dr. Touhi Clinic, including the current state of research in the medical field, its application to hair, and how this technology is being utilized at Dr. Touhi Clinic to treat hair loss and graying hair.

What are iPS cells? Basic knowledge of pluripotent stem cells.

First, let's briefly explain what iPS cells are and provide some basic information.
What is commonly referred to as "stem cells" exists in specific organs within our bodies.
For example, stem cells taken from abdominal fat are used to create abdominal fat, and stem cells taken from blood are used to become blood; their future destination is predetermined.

However, iPS cells are an artificial reproduction of "pluripotent stem cells (all-purpose cells)," which are an even earlier stage than those. 
This has the ability to become the basis for every cell in the human body, from head to toe.
for that reason,It is said that, theoretically, with iPS cells, it would be possible to "create any tissue or organ in the entire body."

▼This section provides a detailed explanation of iPS cells.
 

Applications to various organs and current research progress

To translate the theory that "anything can be created" into actual human organs requires advanced technology in each respective field, and current research progress varies depending on the organ.

Currently, one of the most advanced areas of research is the eye. 
Research is underway to create "cell sheets" of cells from the back and surface of the eye, such as "retinal pigment epithelial cells" and "corneal epithelial cells," from iPS cells and transplant them into actual eyes.

It has been said that corneal cells, once lost, do not regenerate naturally, so if this technology is put into practical use, it will be a groundbreaking treatment for restoring lost vision.
Currently, it is being used to some extent in clinical trials, but it is not yet widely approved by the government for general use.

On the other hand, the areas of "heart" and "brain" have recently seen significant advancements in research, with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare officially recognizing their use as treatments (including approval for clinical application and clinical trials).

• Applications to the heart (e.g., heart failure)
Research is underway to create "myocardial sheets" from iPS cells and directly attach them to weakened hearts to restore the heart's pumping function, offering great hope to many heart failure patients.

• Applications to the brain (Parkinson's disease)
Parkinson's disease, a very common neurological disorder, is a disease in which the brain becomes depleted of a substance called dopamine. In treatment for this disease, clinical trials and actual applications have begun that aim to improve symptoms by creating "progenitor cells," which are the precursors to dopamine production, from iPS cells and supplementing the brain with them.

These are truly amazing technologies, but they are not readily available to everyone at the moment.
Because it is an extremely expensive treatment and requires meeting strict eligibility criteria set by the government, there are still challenges to overcome before it can become a widely adopted and common option.

▼Treatment indication approved! The future of medicine will change with treatments utilizing iPS cells!
 

The difficulty of recreating hair using iPS cells

Next, let's talk about whether hair, which is our area of ​​expertise, can be created from iPS cells.
In conclusion, research is being conducted all over the world, and some studies have even succeeded at the level of animal experiments, where they have been able to recreate the process of creating hair follicles and actually growing hair from them.
However, fully implementing this as a treatment for humans is actually very difficult.

This is because the structure of hair is far more complex than you might imagine. 
Deep within the hair follicle where hair grows, there is a small structure called the "hair follicle," which is not made up of a single cell, but rather of multiple different cells gathered together in a delicate balance.
 
• Hair follicle stem cells, which are the source of hair.
• Hair matrix cells that promote hair growth
• Hair papilla cells that send signals to the hair follicles
• Melanocytes (pigment cells) that give hair color

In this way, unless we can accurately create several different types of cells from iPS cells and then correctly arrange them to completely recreate "a single microscopic world called a hair follicle," it will not lead to the growth of healthy hair.
Since creating just one cell is insufficient, the path to practical application—creating hair itself completely from scratch using iPS cells—is still a long way off.
Research is being conducted all over the world, so I hope it will be realized as soon as possible.

Regenerative medicine using iPS cell culture supernatant

You might be thinking, "So, at this stage, we can't benefit from iPS cells?" But that's not the case.
While it's difficult to create hair itself from iPS cells, Dr. Touhi Clinic is taking a step towards creating hair from scratch.We have already put regenerative medicine utilizing iPS cell technology into practical use and are providing it to many patients.

This treatment does not use iPS cells themselves, but rather uses "supernatant culture solution derived from iPS cells."
During the process of culturing iPS cells, large amounts of highly concentrated, very youthful, and nutrient-rich components (such as growth factors and exosomes) are secreted from the cells.
By directly injecting or intravenously administering the supernatant liquid, which is a concentrated solution of these precious ingredients, into the scalp, it is possible to powerfully activate weakened hair follicles and scalp cells, aiming to improve hair quality, promote hair growth, and reduce gray hair.

▼Dr.TOUHI CLINIC: A complete guide from arrival to treatment
 

The changes in "gray hair improvement" that are actually happening right before your eyes

While before-and-after photos of general hair loss treatments are common, when I see patients receiving treatment with iPS cell culture supernatant at our clinic, I am personally amazed by the clear and significant changes in "gray hair improvement" that I witness firsthand. It is at moments like these that I truly feel the incredible regenerative power of iPS cells.

For patients who regularly dye their gray hair, it can be difficult for them to notice the change themselves, wondering, "Am I really losing gray hair?"
However, as treatment progresses, we often hear these kinds of real-life experiences from our patients.

"Normally, I'd dye my hair once a month, and after a month I'd think, 'Oh, my gray hairs are starting to show, I need to dye them again,' but now, even after a month, I don't notice my gray hairs as much. I feel like I need to go for hair dyeing more often, and the color lasts longer."
This is the best evidence that melanocytes (pigment cells) are beginning to function again in the newly growing hair at the roots. It shows that not only the visible amount of hair, but also the hair quality itself, such as its "color" and "shine," is being rejuvenated from the foundation.

▼Gray hair improved with iPS cell culture supernatant!

Summary

In this presentation, we discussed the latest research progress on iPS cells, the difficulties in applying them to hair, and the practical hair regeneration treatments offered at our clinic.
While it will still take time to completely create hair follicles from iPS cells and put them into practical use, treatment using "iPS cell culture supernatant," which utilizes the components possessing overwhelming vitality, is already providing relief to many patients suffering from hair loss and graying hair.

"As I've gotten older, I've started to worry about gray hair and thinning hair."
"Previous treatments have not yielded satisfactory results."
For those individuals, this treatment should offer a new option.

Let's start by understanding the current condition of your scalp and determining the best approach for you with a free scalp diagnosis.
If you're interested, please feel free to contact us for a consultation.