{
  "abstract": "IntroductionDermal papilla cells regulate hair follicle growth, yet bioactive peptides that influence both pro-growth signaling and androgen receptor (AR)-associated regulation remain poorly characterized. This study evaluated the effects of Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-12 (MT12) on human dermal papilla cell function and its potential interaction with the AR ligand-binding domain (AR-LBD).MethodsHuman dermal papilla cells were treated with MT12, with bicalutamide as a pharmacological reference. Cell viability, proliferation, and expression of Wnt/β-catenin-related, AR-associated, and hair-growth-related genes were assessed by CCK-8, EdU incorporation, and quantitative PCR, respectively. Molecular docking, 500-ns molecular dynamics simulations, and residue communication-network analysis were used to characterize MT12–AR-LBD interactions.ResultsMT12 showed good cytocompatibility and significantly increased dermal papilla cell proliferation, with EdU-positive cells increasing from approximately 5% in controls to 18%–22% after treatment. MT12 increased CTNNB1 and WNT5A expression and reduced DKK1 expression, together with changes in AR, TGF-β1, and PEDF/SERPINF1 transcripts. Computational analyses indicated that MT12 remained associated with the AR-LBD binding pocket and altered local flexibility, conformational sampling, correlated residue motions, and intradomain communication. A recurrent ASN705–MET895–ILE898 route linked the ligand-binding region to the H12/AF-2 regulatory region.DiscussionMT12 promotes dermal papilla cell proliferation and induces a Wnt/β-catenin-related transcriptional profile consistent with pro-growth signaling, while structural analyses suggest modulation of AR conformational dynamics. These integrated cellular and computational findings support MT12 as a potential modulator of dermal papilla cell function, although AR-related activity and the causal role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling require further validation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "Original Research",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Jianing Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Di Wu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mengya Zhou"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xia Zhao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hexiang Mei"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chuanpeng Ren"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yanyun Ma"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fnbmdv72gpw5r.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1996340",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "fnbmdv72gpw5r",
  "issns": [
    "1663-9812"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1996340",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "feed-journal",
      "medicine/pharmacology-toxicology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-09",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fnbmdv72gpw5r.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:20:33Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1996340",
      "source": "feed-frontiers",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1996340"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:23:31Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1996340",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1996340/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "feed-journal:medicine/pharmacology-toxicology",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-12 promotes dermal papilla cell proliferation and modulates wnt/β-catenin signaling and androgen receptor conformational dynamics",
  "title_text": "Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-12 promotes dermal papilla cell proliferation and modulates wnt/β-catenin signaling and androgen receptor conformational dynamics",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:23:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fnbmdv72gpw5r",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Pharmacology",
  "versions": []
}