A breakthrough in hair growth has been made as scientists from Northwestern University may have found a way to help avoid baldness. According to the study, first published in the journal PNAS, hair follicles stiffen as people age. This makes it more difficult for hair to grow, Daily Record reports.
However, the researchers suggest that this process can be avoided if hair follicles are softened as it becomes more likely that hair is produced. The study found a way to help hair growth by softening the stem cells through boosting production of a tiny RND, miR-205 - the particles that relax the hardness of the cells.
The study was carried out on mice, with the scientists genetically manipulating the stem cells in order to make them produce more miR-205. Hair growth recorded in mice young and old. Senior author of the study and professor of pathology and dermatology at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine in Illinois, Rui Yi, told SciTechDaily: “They started to grow hair in 10 days.
“These are not new stem cells being generated. We are stimulating the existing stem cells to grow hair. A lot of times we still have stem cells, but they may not be able to generate the hair.”
The scientist explained that it is possible to stimulate hair growth by regulating cell mechanics.
“Because of the potential to deliver microRNA by nanoparticles directly into the skin, next we will test whether topically delivered miR-205 can stimulate hair growth first in mice,” he said. “If successful, we will design experiments to test whether this microRNA can promote hair growth potentially in humans", Yi added.
The study was conducted using advanced microscopy tools such as atomic force to measure the stiffness of cells as well as two-photon microcopy to monitor cell behaviours in the mice.
Experts are hopeful the study will be translatable to humans, with Dr Ken Williams Jr, a surgeon and founder of Orange County Hair Restoration in Irvine, California, telling Medical News Today : “The challenge is that the mouse model does not always translate into the same human observations.
“I want to temper any high expectation about these results. It is too early to determine the efficacy or benefit from these studies. We are hopeful that further research will be of value when applying it to humans.”
The doctor also noted that there are several medications currently in clinical trials also potentially beneficial to humans battling with baldness.
