Cure for Baldness Linked to WNT Gene

A study was posted in the on-line journal, Nature Technology, Sunday revealing that hair follicles contain ``blank slate'' stem cells. These stem cells were able to generate hair growth.

A gene known as WNT was discovered while experimenting with laboratory mice. This gene is believed to help stimulate and regrow hair follicles.

For many years, scientists from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, have been researching wound healing. What they found shocked them.

Removing the epidermis layer from small sections of laboratory mice, stimulated stem cell activity. This new activity actually produced new hair follicles.
The human hair follicle has always thought to die and never regrow. In the mice, the hair follicles grew back.

Further research revealed the gene WNT. Scientists discovered that suppressing this gene also suppressed hair follicle growth. Adding a booster of WNT, produced even more hair.

Dr George Cotsarelis revealed the hair that grew back was white. He joked that maybe one could dye it. The hair was very healthy and thick. This showed the follicle to be healthy, as well.

Dr Cotsarelis and his team transplanted healthy cells onto new mice. It showed, in the experiment, that the cells produced hair. Along with the hair came the follicles, epidermis and sebaceous glands.

What is exciting about this discovery is this is confirmation. In 2004, Elaine Fuchs' scientist team at Rockefeller University, also was able to label the cells. They used a different approach, with the same results. Two separate teams coming up with the same conclusion, give cause to validity.

Cotsarelis says that he is just in the beginning stages of this new break-through. He did state in an interview on CNN today, that he is working with a small company for testing. When asked how long it would be for a product to reach market, Cotsarelis said they hope to begin human testing within a year.

Application would be as simple as a topical protein added to the scalp after skin preparation.

The discovery of the WNT gene opens up further research into wound healing and regeneration.

Two products on the market today, Rogaine and Propecia, each have approximately $100 million a year in sales. Neither one was designed to treat baldness. Hair growth was discovered to be a side affect of the treatment of hypertension and enlarged prostates.