A research team believes they may have discovered a cure for baldness by preventing chemical buildups that can cause it to occur in the first place — and may even be able to use it to regrow lost hair.
The University of California, Riverside (UCR) discovered through modeling that the chemical kills hair follicles at high doses. However, when the levels are “just perfect,” fresh hair growth occurs.
TGF-beta, the protein at the heart of their finding, not only regulates the growth of a follicle but may also cause its death. The UCR research group believes that its levels can be “managed” to prevent hair loss.
Approximately 40 million Americans are bald, and while many accept it as a natural part of aging, recent research suggests that there may be a technique to prevent hair loss in old age.
Dr. Qixuan Wang, a mathematical biologist at UCR and the paper’s lead author, stated that her findings brought scientists one step closer to ‘managing’ the mechanisms that cause baldness.
The team’s modeling revealed that excessive quantities of TGF-beta, which occurs naturally in hair follicles, can be toxic to the follicles, leading to their death and eventual shedding.
The death of hair follicles may be the cause of baldness, according to the research group.
When “just right” quantities of the protein were attained in the hair follicles, cells were activated to produce new hairs.
Approximately 100 times every day, hair follicles undergo cell death, resulting in hair loss.
Each follicle also contains stem cells that can develop new hair-producing cells to ensure the regrowth of lost hair.
Wang and co-author Dr. Katherine Dinh argue that the chemical TGF-beta is responsible for the inactivation of this pathway in baldness.
Even when a hair follicle dies, its stem cell store is never destroyed. Wang explained that when the surviving cells receive the signal to regenerate, they divide, produce a new cell, and mature into a new follicle.
“TGF-beta has two contradictory roles in this.” Later, it helps coordinate apoptosis, the process of cell death, by activating certain hair follicle cells to produce new life.
She continued, “Our new research brings us closer to comprehending stem cell behavior so that we can regulate it and improve wound healing.
TGF-beta is a growth-stimulating molecule that is routinely secreted by several cells throughout the body, including white blood cells.
In the study, scientists utilized information derived from skin surface testing that revealed the concentration of several substances.
Baldness, which can affect both men and women, is frequently a genetic trait.
Alopecia can also be caused by the body attacking its hair follicles, a condition is known as alopecia areata, which causes hair loss in a matter of weeks.
Stress and hair-pulling hair extensions have also been linked to hair loss.
Dr. Anthony Oro, a dermatologist at Stanford Health Care in California, stated that any conclusions on the function of TGF-beta based on the study were premature.
TGF-Beta has a multifaceted role in regular hair growth, therefore its nomination is not unexpected.
‘The significance of this work is hampered by several factors. First, the study relies mostly on mouse hair growth data, and we know that the regulation of hair growth in mice and humans is highly different.
‘Second, the research focuses on the natural hair cycle, not male pattern baldness, which is two quite different phenomena, thus the conclusions from one may not necessarily apply to the other.
Conclusions regarding TGF-function Beta’s in baldness are premature because the study fails to validate any of its findings in patients.
What is the difference between alopecia and thinning hair due to aging?
Alopecia areata is caused by hair follicles being attacked by the immune system.
When hair follicles are compromised, hair begins to fall out.
It typically causes circular or oval-shaped patches of baldness and can result in total baldness.
The condition can emerge at any point in a person’s life and is unpredictable, with its hereditary etiology still unknown to researchers.
Meanwhile, inherited factors are responsible for age-related hair loss.
It is known as male pattern baldness in men and female pattern baldness in women.
Inherited genes from either parent eventually lead the follicles to shrivel and stop producing hair.
It might begin in adolescence but is more prevalent later in life.
It is not the result of immunological response and is therefore unaffected by medicines designed to suppress the immune system.
