Hair color cells move and change shape to keep hair colored
Dedifferentiation maintains melanocyte stem cells in a dynamic niche
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Hair color cells (melanocyte stem cells) in mice don’t just sit still. They move around in hair follicles and can switch between being 'baby' cells and 'working' cells. This helps them make new color cells. When hair grows over and over, more of these cells get stuck in a resting place and stop working, which can lead to gray hair. UVB light makes them work temporarily, then they go back to resting. Scientists think helping these cells move and change could stop gray hair.
Surprising Findings
Melanocyte stem cells don’t have a fixed reserve — they’re maintained by cells that dedifferentiate back into stem cells.
This contradicts the traditional model where stem cells are permanently reserved and never differentiate. Instead, the study shows most McSCs toggle between states, and the system is maintained by reverted cells.
Practical Takeaways
Future anti-graying treatments could focus on mobilizing stranded McSCs or boosting WNT signaling to keep them active.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Hair color cells (melanocyte stem cells) in mice don’t just sit still. They move around in hair follicles and can switch between being 'baby' cells and 'working' cells. This helps them make new color cells. When hair grows over and over, more of these cells get stuck in a resting place and stop working, which can lead to gray hair. UVB light makes them work temporarily, then they go back to resting. Scientists think helping these cells move and change could stop gray hair.
Surprising Findings
Melanocyte stem cells don’t have a fixed reserve — they’re maintained by cells that dedifferentiate back into stem cells.
This contradicts the traditional model where stem cells are permanently reserved and never differentiate. Instead, the study shows most McSCs toggle between states, and the system is maintained by reverted cells.
Practical Takeaways
Future anti-graying treatments could focus on mobilizing stranded McSCs or boosting WNT signaling to keep them active.
Publication
Journal
Nature
Year
2023
Authors
Qi Sun, Wendy Lee, Hai-yang Hu, T. Ogawa, Sophie De Leon, I. Katehis, Chae Ho Lim, M. Takeo, M. Cammer, M. Taketo, Denise L. Gay, S. Millar, Mayumi Ito
Related Content
Claims (10)
Mouse hair pigment cells move between different parts of the hair follicle and change their state back and forth, which is linked to WNT signaling.
When mouse hair is repeatedly plucked, more pigment cells get stuck in the bulge area (from 10% to 50% of follicles), and these stuck cells don't help make new hair color.
Mouse pigment cells that make Oca2 protein can turn back into stem cells after moving to the bulge area of the hair follicle.
When mouse skin is exposed to UV light, pigment cells temporarily turn dark but later revert back to stem cells.
WNT signals in the hair follicle are linked to pigment cells turning into mature color-producing cells in mice.