Saturday, December 27, 2014

IMMUNE SYSTEM COULD PROMOTE HAIR GROWTH HAIR LOSS PROBLEMS


Mouse study finds immune system could promote hair growth
Hair loss problems? Good news, a group of cancer researchers may have found an exciting new way to stimulate hair growth, utilizing the body's immune system.

Researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) outline a connection they discovered between macrophages - immune system cells that eat pathogens in a process called phagocytosis - and regenerative skin stem cells.

"We have discovered that macrophages, cells whose main function is traditionally attributed to fight infections and wound repair, are also involved in the activation of hair follicle stem cells in non-inflamed skin," says study author Mirna Perez-Moreno.

Macrophages surround regenerative skin stem cells and activate them, in turn prompting the growth of hair. According to the authors, the discovery could have implications for the development of new technologies associated with regeneration, aging and cancer.


Full article:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287367.php

Paper:
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002002

Animation showing the the hair growth cycle
corina marinescu

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