Posted on: March 15, 2002
In last issue of Journal of Investigative Dermatology:http://www.jidonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/118/2/216 review article was published, that discuss aspects of hair cloning:
1) "Knowledge of the molecules and pathways that regulate hair follicle formation and hair growth will be essential for achieving therapeutic goals for hair loss conditions, including the ability:
- to create new hair follicles;
- to change the characteristics (such as size or shape) of existing follicles;
- and to alter hair growth in existing follicles..."
2) "...Inhibiting the activities of molecules important for hair follicle formation and cyclical growth may also ultimately provide us with means for treating hirsutism..."
3) Newertheless "...we are far from achieving these goals, the identification of molecules such as:
- ß-catenin
- SHH (Sonic hedgehog) that are capable of inducing the formation of new hair follicles provides us with potential strategies for treating conditions in which follicles have been completely destroyed..."
4) "...SHH is also able to induce anagen (growth stage), proroperty that may be useful for treating a variety of conditions."
5) "...In designing therapeutic approaches, however, it must be borne in mind that these molecules can also cause the formation of tumors such as pilomatricoma and BCC (basal cell carcinoma).
It will therefore be important to ensure, by controlling the dose, or modifying the properties of these molecules, that one can induce follicle formation without producing harmful side-effects..."
6)"The development of methods for delivering genes to hair follicles is an area of active research that will clearly be critical for achieving therapeutic goals." At least 3 reports on succesful gene therapy of hair properties were published within last 2 years.
7) "...Although striking advances have been made recently in our understanding of hair follicle development, several areas remain mysterious.
a) The nature of the first dermal signal regulating hair follicle development is not known, and we cannot yet explain why hair follicles in different regions of the body have different properties, including size, duration of the anagen growth phase, and sensitivity to androgens.
b) The mechanisms by which testosterone impacts on signaling in the hair follicle to achieve its effects are also not understood, an area of importance for the development of novel therapies for androgenetic alopecia..."
8) "...The next few years are likely to bring us answers to some of these outstanding questions, and perhaps the beginnings of therapeutic applications for our recently acquired knowledge."
From: Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Hair Follicle Development. J Invest Dermatology 118, 216-225 (2002).
By: Sarah E. Millar |
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