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Hair Replacement Gene Therapy

Many people suffer the effects of hair loss. Men, women and even children often remedy the condition by wearing hats or wigs, completely shaving their heads or braving hair transplant surgery. For scientists, the key to discovering the treatment for hair loss is finding its cause. According to the Dermatology Journal, researchers have made important progress towards identifying this cause, and have been able to regenerate hair follicles in mice skin and awaken dormant genes which instigated the formation of hair follicles on stem cells.

  1. What is Gene Therapy?

    • Gene therapy is the scientific process of altering the genes of existing body cells and in effect, also changing the cells' functions. It is a form of medical treatment that, in 2009, is still in its infancy and there are only a few examples of gene therapy that are completely working. Its potential in curing baldness however, is very promising.

      Several steps must be achieved in order for gene therapy to successfully take place. The first step involves figuring out which of the many genes on the DNA strands are connected to the particular characteristic that is being altered. The second step is the process of figuring out how best to target the genes to be modified, which is necessary to make the proteins. The last step is placing the target cells inside the living organism to combine the new genes and replace old genes with new and better ones.

    Gene Identification

    • Finding out which genes are causing a genetic condition is a very difficult task. As of 2009, the Dematology Journal reports that scientists have yet to discover which genes affect hair growth and which ones are responsible for causing hair loss. They suggest, however, that there are genes producing proteins that may cause some hair follicles to become DHT-sensitive.

      After identifying the genes, scientists will have to figure out how to alter them gently in order to allow them to produce proteins that will in turn produce DHT-resistant hair follicles.

    Next Steps

    • According to American Hair Loss, scientists have been able to identify a gene in mice that can cause hair loss when mutated, mutate a gene that prompted the creation of proteins and caused the development of hair follicles, and finally cause the hair follicles to transition from its dormant phase to its growth phase. Further study is needed to develop the gene replacement therapy and technique for use in humans. American Hair Loss reports that new developments in stem cell research may make this possible.

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