Scientists believe they have uncovered the mechanism that causes hair to turn grey, a breakthrough that could lead to treatments to reverse or halt the process. The study, led by researchers from New York University Grossman School of Medicine, focused on melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) found in the skin of mice and humans.
The research suggests that as hair ages, stem cells lose their ability to move between growth compartments in hair follicles. This loss of mobility prevents them from maturing and maintaining hair colour, resulting in greyness. The findings were published in a recent study.
Lead investigator Qi Sun, a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Langone Health, stated: “The newfound mechanisms raise the possibility that the same fixed-positioning of melanocyte stem cells may exist in humans. If so, it presents a potential pathway for reversing or preventing the greying of human hair by helping jammed cells to move again between developing hair follicle compartments.”
Hair colour is controlled by McSCs that receive signals to become mature cells producing protein pigments. During normal hair growth, these cells continuously pivot between compartments, but with age, increasing numbers get stuck in the hair follicle bulge. Senior investigator Mayumi Ito added: “It is the loss of chameleon-like function in melanocyte stem cells that may be responsible for greying and loss of hair colour.”
