New Study , Identifies Root Cause , of Hair Loss.
'The Independent' reports that a new study
suggests that a single chemical could
determine whether or not people go bald. .
The study by the University of California
says the discovery could, "not only treat baldness, but
ultimately speed wound healing.”.
In science fiction when characters
heal quickly from injuries,
the idea is that stem cells allowed it, Qixuan Wang, study co-author, via 'The Independent'.
In real life, our new research gets
us closer to understanding stem cell
behavior, so that we can control it
and promote wound healing, Qixuan Wang, study co-author, via 'The Independent'.
According to the research, the team discovered
a type of protein called TGF-beta which controls
how the stem cells in hair follicles divide.
It also determines why some of those follicles, which are the only human organ to regenerate regularly and automatically, can die off.
TGF-beta has two opposite roles.
It helps activate some hair follicle cells
to produce new life, and later,
it helps orchestrate apoptosis,
the process of cell death, Qixuan Wang, study co-author, via 'The Independent'.
Even when a hair follicle kills itself,
it never kills its stem cell reservoir.
When the surviving stem cells
receive the signal to regenerate,
they divide, make new cell
and develop into a new follicle, Qixuan Wang, study co-author, via 'The Independent'.
The study's authors suggest that the discovery
could be used to stimulate hair growth
by activating stem cells in follicles.
The study was published
in the 'Biophysical Journal.'