New research, which has been published in the May 17 issue of Nature magazine, could, potentially, be the most exciting development that has ever been made in the treatment of hair loss. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a way to make the hair follicles in mice regenerate by reactivating genes which are only normally active in developing embryos and have ceased to function by the time of birth. The implications of these findings are massive.
It was thought until now that mammals, human beings included, did not have the power to regenerate parts of the body from nothing like other species such as newts. This study proves that mammals do indeed have that ability, something which could lead to breakthroughs in treating hair loss, skin and hair complaints and wound care. It was found that mice with healing wounds had a window of opportunity to regrow hair where none existed. By injecting the mice with Wnt proteins, the mice grew hair at the site of the wound.
The senior author of the study, George Cotsarelis, said, "We've found that we can influence wound healing with Wnts or other proteins that allow the skin to heal in a way that has less scarring and includes all the normal structures of the skin, such as hair follicles and oil glands, rather than just a scar."
This research could provide the basis for cures for hair and scalp disorders such as alopecia and hair overgrowth as well as for male pattern baldness.
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