Surprising results in laboratory experiments have led to the discovery of an ancient biological stress pathway that triggers cells to stop producing what is needed for hair growth. Scientists believe that this opens the door to the development of a pre-emptive attack, protecting the hair follicles from this process and preventing hair loss.
“We were testing drugs that target the metabolism of human hair follicles to affect how cells produce energy. Based on the work of other researchers, we were testing drugs that target the metabolism of human hair follicles to stimulate stem cells. “We expected that,” said lead author Talveen Purba, a researcher at the University of Manchester. “But we found that the opposite was true: cells, including stem cells, quickly stopped dividing, so hair growth was actually stunted.”
This block was the result of activation of an ancient biological pathway known as the integrated stress response (ISR). This response is switched on in cells under stress. Stress can be caused by a variety of issues, including viral infections and protein deformations. When ISR is triggered, cells can stop their normal activities, reduce protein excretion, and instead focus on coping with the stressor. This can also cause cell death.
Not surprisingly, ISR is a focus of research in anti-aging treatments as well as in the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
But what does this have to do with losing hair? Scientists have discovered that when the ISR pathway is activated in hair follicles, this cellular “stagnation” stops the production of very important proteins needed for hair growth. So blocking this trigger, which also causes mitochondrial dysfunction and breakdowns in communication between cells, could send a message to cells that it’s “normal” and prevent hair loss.
“When you look at hair follicles under a microscope, you’re amazed at how consistent the responses are between hair follicles in different people,” said Derek Pye, study co-author and lead engineer in the research group. .
Although still in its early stages, this serendipitous discovery of how ISR plays a key role in cellular function in a variety of organisms, from yeast to humans, has led researchers to now discover how people suffering from hair loss can The focus is on how ISR works in
“We are very hopeful because we believe activation of this pathway may play an important biological role in limiting hair growth in people with hair loss symptoms. , targeting this pathway could lead to new treatments,” Professor Purba said.
“We showed that ISR activation is associated with a growth block in human hair follicles, so in hair diseases the ISR is aberrantly activated and normal hair follicles are restored by promoting dystrophic anagen or catagen phases. “We hypothesize that it may interfere with the cycle,” the researchers noted in the study. “Thus, targeting this pathway to reduce ISR activation (e.g. using ISRIB) could potentially be used to help maintain hair follicles during anagen.”
The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
Source: University of Manchester
