Why hair turns gray and if it can grow back
Genotoxic stress abrogates renewal of melanocyte stem cells by triggering their differentiation.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
DNA damage triggers melanocyte stem cell differentiation instead of apoptosis or senescence.
It's widely assumed that damaged stem cells either die (apoptosis) or stop dividing (senescence)—but here, they actively change into mature cells, which is a novel and counterintuitive pathway.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation (e.g., excessive medical scans) to potentially protect stem cell reserves.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
DNA damage triggers melanocyte stem cell differentiation instead of apoptosis or senescence.
It's widely assumed that damaged stem cells either die (apoptosis) or stop dividing (senescence)—but here, they actively change into mature cells, which is a novel and counterintuitive pathway.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation (e.g., excessive medical scans) to potentially protect stem cell reserves.
Publication
Journal
Cell
Year
2009
Authors
K. Inomata, Takahiro Aoto, N. Binh, Natsuko Okamoto, S. Tanimura, T. Wakayama, S. Iseki, E. Hara, T. Masunaga, Hiroshi Shimizu, E. Nishimura
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Claims (3)
When mouse hair follicle stem cells get badly damaged by radiation, they turn into pigment-producing cells instead of dying or stopping work — and that’s why their fur turns gray permanently.
When a specific protein called ATM doesn't work properly, skin stem cells that should stay as stem cells start turning into the wrong kind of cells. This protein acts like a guard that keeps stem cells healthy and in the right state.
As mammals get older, their hair turns gray because the cells that give hair its color don't get replaced properly—and if their DNA gets too damaged, this process happens even faster.