Stem cells may cure baldness
A cure for baldness may be soon at hand after the discovery that stem cells may help grow hair on shiny pates. The lab of University of Southern California scientist, Krzysztof Kobielak, has identified a complex network of genes, including the gene Wnt7b which activates hair growth.
Human trials are now underway, using cells taken from donor tissue and cultured in a lab before being injected into the skin where hair is needed.
The idea is that this will lead to the growth of new follicles for the first time, rather than transplanting existing hair from one site to another.
The technique could be suitable for people with a limited number of follicles, including those with female pattern hair loss, scarring alopecia and hair loss due to burns.
“The implication for future therapies might be potentially much broader than baldness — and could include skin regeneration for burn patients and skin cancer,” Mr Kobielak said.
The findings were published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine.
