For some individuals, baldness may just be in their genetic destiny, as evidenced by the photo of Dwayne Johnson sporting curly hair. However, for millions dealing with hair loss due to genetics, aging, hormones, or medical conditions, recent discoveries may bring them closer to maintaining a full and lush scalp.
This progress is attributed to a new study published in the journal Natural Communication.
Researchers conducting the study used mice as subjects to delve into the mechanisms of hair follicle regeneration and the factors contributing to their demise.
In our bodies, all hair and the follicles under the skin go through cycles of growth, death, and rest. Key players in regulating the growth of new hair are hair follicular stem cells.
The study identified a protein called MCL-1 and conducted experiments to determine its function by turning it off and observing the effects on the mice.
“The researchers utilized advanced molecular biology tools to essentially remove proteins and examine the outcomes,” explained tissue engineering expert Professor Sheila McNeill, who was not part of the research team, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
By disabling MCL-1 in some mice from birth and in others after they had already lost some hair, scientists found that without MCL-1, new hair could not grow as hair follicle stem cells seemed to die off. This led to gradual hair loss in young mice and stalled growth in adult mice.
The findings suggested that MCL-1 plays a crucial role in protecting hair follicle stem cells, enabling new hair growth when old follicles die. Without this protein, hair follicles fail to regenerate.
McNeill emphasized that this study lays a solid foundation for further research, exploring whether individuals experiencing hair loss exhibit signs of MCL-1 damage and investigating ways to safeguard the protein to prevent hair loss.
However, cell biologist Professor Dorothy Bennett from St. George’s, University of London, cautioned that translating this research into a hair loss treatment presents significant challenges.
“MCL-1 is an intracellular protein, and intact proteins cannot easily penetrate cell membranes to reach their targets. Therefore, delivering MCL-1 through topical solutions or pills is unlikely to be effective,” Bennett explained.
Nevertheless, the study did identify a potential workaround through the activation of another protein, the epidermal growth factor receptor, which can boost MCL-1 levels. While this offers a promising alternative, Bennett stressed that developing such treatments presents numerous hurdles.
Read more:
About our experts:
Sheila McNeill: Professor Emeritus of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering at the University of Sheffield, UK. McNeil specializes in tissue engineering for soft tissues and has a strong focus on research translation, with a vast publication record.
Dorothy Bennett: Research Professor in Cell Biology at St. George’s, University of London, UK. Bennett’s research interests include cell senescence, genetics of melanoma, and other pigmented skin conditions.
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
