The thinning top: why old people have less hair

J Invest Dermatol. 2014 Aug;134(8):2068-2069. doi: 10.1038/jid.2014.172.

Abstract

Changes in the hair cycle underlie age-related alopecia, but the causative mechanisms have remained unclear. Chen et al. point to an imbalance between stem cell-activating and -inhibitory signals as the key determinant of age-related regenerative decline. Further, they identify a secreted protein, follistatin, that may be able to shift the balance toward renewal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Follistatin / physiology*
  • Hair Follicle / physiology*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
  • Regeneration / physiology*

Substances

  • Dkk1 protein, mouse
  • Follistatin
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Sfrp4 protein, mouse