Hair loss in humans might not be irreversible, suggest scientists who have helped create new hair cells on the skin of mice.It was thought hair follicles, once damaged, could never be replaced.
But a University of Pennsylvania, US, team, writing in the journal Nature, says hair growth can actually be encouraged using a single gene.
The Pennsylvania team found that a particular gene important in wound healing, called wnt, appeared to play a role in the production of new hair follicles.
In its experiment, small sections of the outer skin layer, or epidermis, were removed from mice.
Just this act appeared to awaken stem cell activity in the area, the scientists said, which included the production of a number of hair follicles.
If the action of the wnt gene was blocked, no hair follicles were produced; but if it was boosted, then many more hair follicles were produced, with the skin layer eventually being indistinguishable from surrounding areas.
Link & Image: BBC
Tags: Hair Loss | Gene | WNT
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