American researchers have identified a molecule, present in hairy moles, which promotes hair regrowth.
- Osteopontin is a very active molecule around hairy moles, which reactivates the hair follicles.
- It could be injected into men with baldness to allow hair regrowth.
- To test the efficacy and safety of this molecule in humans, a clinical trial should begin this summer.
“There is no need to invent new molecules. Nature has them all.” This is what Maksim Plikus, a hair scientist at the University of California (Irvine), told Insider. With his team, the researcher discovered a molecule, called “osteopontin”, which would reactivate dormant stem cells, namely hair follicles, and thus regrow hair. This molecule is very active around hairy moles. “In humans, melanocytic cutaneous nevi (i.e., hairy moles) often exhibit excessive hair growth, suggesting hyperactivity of hair stem cells,” explained the scientists.
Osteopontin induces ‘robust hair growth in mice’
In their study, published in the journal Naturethe authors tested the effects of osteopontin on mice. “We show that dermal clusters of melanocytes (skin cells that synthesize melanin) drive hair epithelial stem cells to erupt and change and their composition, which powerfully promotes hair renewal. (…) injection of osteopontin or its genetic overexpression is sufficient to induce robust hair growth in mice.” can we read in the works.
Baldness: the molecule could be injected into the scalp of patients
Given these results, the team thinks that osteopontin could be injected into the scalp of people suffering from baldness. Thus, she intends to conduct a clinical trial to test the effectiveness and safety of the osteopontin injection technique in humans. The latter should begin this summer. If the results are convincing, this could pave the way for a new therapy to treat baldness and help stimulate hair growth. As a reminder, to date, there are few effective treatments against this partial or complete absence of hair, which worries many men.
