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New Study Identities Gene That Codes For Rare Type Of Hair Loss
| Author: Tony Cappasso |
| Article Date: 2/28/2008 |
Scientists have identified a gene that codes for a rare type of hair loss called hypotrichosis simplex.
The research team headed by researchers at the University of Bonn, Germany, are the first to identify a receptor that plays a role in hair growth. They now hope that their research findings will lead to new therapies that will work with various forms of hair loss. The study, due to appear in the March edition of 'Nature Genetics', can be accessed in advance on the internet (http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.84) from January 24 (1pm US Eastern Time).
Healthy individuals normally lose around 100 hairs per day, the scientists said. As long as this hair loss is spread evenly around the head, it does not appear very noticeable, they said. But hair loss at greater levels can cause both cosmetic and psychological problems.
'Although Hypotrichosis simplex is very uncommon, it may prove critical in our search for an understand of the mechanisms of hair growth, project leader Dr. Regina Betz from Bonn's Institute of Human Genetics said summing up the research results. The disease is inherited and affects both men and women. Sufferers generally begin to go bald during childhood. The process of hair loss (alopecia) then advances with age, especially around the scalp.
The cause of Hypotrichosis simplex in the form examined in this project is a genetic defect. It prevents certain receptor structures on the surface of hair follicle cells from being correctly formed. It has been found that when messengers from outside bind to these receptors they trigger a chain reaction in the cell interior which is apparently needed for the hair follicle to function normally. Such a receptor that plays a specific role in hair growth was previously unknown to scientists.
Although the genetic defect that causes hypotrichosis is rare, the scientists were able to identify a family in Saudi Arabia with nine members who carried the gene including four family members who are sufferers with the disease.
'The defective receptor structure falls into the category of what are known as G-protein-coupled receptors, Professor Dr. Markus Nöthen, Chair of Genetic Medicine at Bonn University's Life & Brain Centre, explained.
'This is good news, because, 'they are particularly well suited as points of impact for drug treatments,' Professor Nothern said. The researchers have also been able to identify an endogenous messenger that binds in the hair follicle to the receptor. This opens up opportunities for pharmaceutical manufacturers to develop new active agents.
The research team headed by researchers at the University of Bonn, Germany, are the first to identify a receptor that plays a role in hair growth. They now hope that their research findings will lead to new therapies that will work with various forms of hair loss. The study, due to appear in the March edition of 'Nature Genetics', can be accessed in advance on the internet (http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.84) from January 24 (1pm US Eastern Time).
Healthy individuals normally lose around 100 hairs per day, the scientists said. As long as this hair loss is spread evenly around the head, it does not appear very noticeable, they said. But hair loss at greater levels can cause both cosmetic and psychological problems.
'Although Hypotrichosis simplex is very uncommon, it may prove critical in our search for an understand of the mechanisms of hair growth, project leader Dr. Regina Betz from Bonn's Institute of Human Genetics said summing up the research results. The disease is inherited and affects both men and women. Sufferers generally begin to go bald during childhood. The process of hair loss (alopecia) then advances with age, especially around the scalp.
The cause of Hypotrichosis simplex in the form examined in this project is a genetic defect. It prevents certain receptor structures on the surface of hair follicle cells from being correctly formed. It has been found that when messengers from outside bind to these receptors they trigger a chain reaction in the cell interior which is apparently needed for the hair follicle to function normally. Such a receptor that plays a specific role in hair growth was previously unknown to scientists.
Although the genetic defect that causes hypotrichosis is rare, the scientists were able to identify a family in Saudi Arabia with nine members who carried the gene including four family members who are sufferers with the disease.
'The defective receptor structure falls into the category of what are known as G-protein-coupled receptors, Professor Dr. Markus Nöthen, Chair of Genetic Medicine at Bonn University's Life & Brain Centre, explained.
'This is good news, because, 'they are particularly well suited as points of impact for drug treatments,' Professor Nothern said. The researchers have also been able to identify an endogenous messenger that binds in the hair follicle to the receptor. This opens up opportunities for pharmaceutical manufacturers to develop new active agents.