Grey hair and baldness could soon be a thing of the past, as scientists say they have found the root cause of the ageing-related problem.
Researchers from the New York University Medical Centre said they have identified the signalling protein which coordinates pigmentation of hair in two cell types – hair follicle stem cells and melanocytes, which produce colour.
If the protein, known as Wnt, is not present in melanocyte stem cells, grey hair takes hold, the scientists, writing in the journal Cell, claimed.
Lead study author Dr Mayumi Ito, assistant professor at in the Department of Dermatology at the university, said: ‘We have known for decades that hair follicle stem cells and pigment-producing melanocycte cells collaborate to produce coloured hair, but the underlying reasons were unknown.’
Genetic mouse models were used by the researchers, who examined the ways in which Wnt signalling pathways affected both hair follicle stem cells and melanocyte stem cells, allowing them to work together to generate hair growth and produce hair colour.
The lead researcher added: ‘The methods behind communication between stem cells of hair and colour during hair replacement may give us important clues to regenerate complex organs containing many different types of cells.’
It is hoped that the research could lead to new treatments being developed to tackle the problem of grey hair.
This could be good news for Wayne Rooney, who recently underwent a hair transplant to re-grow his locks.
The footballer may well turn to another cosmetic treatment in the future should his hair turn grey, but he might not have to if treatments to cure the ageing-related problem are created.