Stem Cells Baldness
In order to fill the market need in hair (re)generation or hair loss therapy researchers have successfully reported that they have been able to coax stem cells into the production of live hair follicles. To attest to the general population’s need for such a treatment there are currently roughly six in every ten men above the age of 50 (and two in every ten by age 30) who suffer from hair loss, meaning a substantial market and general desire for some sort of long term treatment to be available. Beyond simple cosmetic needs, however, the recently announced hair loss treatment ability utilizing stem cells might also be useful for other conditions such as alopecia, where hair has been lost in patches, or for returning lost hair to cancer sufferers in order to help boost their self confidence in their fight against their disease.
The recent breakthrough was chronicled in the journal, Nature, where scientists told how they had demonstrated that adult mammals were capable of growing new hair follicles. Previous wisdom had held that the follicles, the minute structures that are responsible for hair growth, are always formed prior to birth and that their gradual and irreversible death leads to baldness. The new discovery, however, demonstrates the possibility of developing new hair follicles later in life which may well give the green light for successful future hair loss treatments.
The researchers at the University of Pennsylvania made the new discovery while investigating into the process of wound healing in mice. The Pennsylvanian scientists found that as the wounds in the mice healed new hair follicles formed underneath the new skin, thereby resulting in new hair growth. Upon close analysis the researchers found that the actual follicles were formed from stem cells that act as a form of “master cells” that are able to turn into different cells and tissues.
They also found that the key component of the whole process was a protein called WNT which is normally only active in the womb during child development. When levels of the protein WNT are raised it was found that more hair grows, whereas conversely without WNT there is no hair growth. Further, the researchers also discovered that adding WNT to the wound healing process allowed wounds to heal better and it is believed that, when the skin heals itself, it goes back to a state similar to that which is found in a developing fetus, thereby allowing the growth of new and fully functional follicles.
All work and research has thus far been limited only to mice, although researchers hope that similar techniques might result in treatments for humans as well. As it was found that wounding seems to be an integral part of the overall process it seems that the skin would need to be grazed in the area to be treated and then a form of WNT drug would be administered. At this point, though, all hair produced by studies has been white which means that any new hair grown would most likely need to be dyed in order to make it appear natural. Based on current research trends the first human trials might not be too far away, although any possible cure for baldness is not expected for at least a decade.
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