New Hair Growth Gene (Lhx2) Identified
A research team working at the University of Sweden identified a new gene that may prove important in the fight against hair loss. Scientists found that the gene, Lhx2, is crucial in regulating hair growth during a hair follicle’s expansion, or Anagen, phase.
Hair follicles undergo three natural phases, or cycles – the Anagen, or growth phase (where follicles are active and hair growth occurs), the Catagen, or transition stage (where the growth cycle stops), and the Telogen, or resting phase (where follicles are no longer active and the static hairs shed). After the resting stage is complete (usually a period of 3 months) a new growth phase begins and the follicular cycle continues.
Researchers have discovered that Lhx2 is present during the Anagen (growth) phase, follicles cannot produce new hair in the absence of Lhx2, and the gene can actually activate the growth cycle. These findings make Lhx2 and its effect on follicular cycles and genetic hair growth an important tool in future balding research.
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Blake Bloxham – formerly “Future_HT_Doc”
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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Technorati Tags: hair loss, Lhx2, hair growth, hair follicle, follicular cycles, genetic hair growth, balding
June 13, 2017 @ 4:59 pm
Hi! I do not have hair loss, but I have 4C hair–the hardest to grow out. I want to grow it, but I already have the longest hair in my family, and its not even that long. I am South Sudanese and if a South Sudanese person has long hair, it is rare. I want to know if Lhx2 will somehow help me and will this research be able to help me with my hair growth, despite my genetics.
June 13, 2017 @ 4:39 pm
I do not have hair loss, but I have 4c hair–the hardest hair type to grow out. There are some people with long 4c hair, but my family doesn’t. Is there a way to grow it out even with my genetics and is there a way this research could help do that?
April 6, 2011 @ 6:08 pm
Nicolle,
While I definitely recommend reviewing a scholarly source and including a citation with this information in your school paper, ‘stopping’ hair growth is normally caused by the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase 2.
Once this testosterone is converted to DHT, it affects the hair follicles and ‘stops’ their function, essentially stopping hair growth in the sense that the follicles die off and no longer produces hairs.
I suppose this is as close to inhibition as you can come, but as far as LHX2 is concerned, I’m unsure if they have isolated what inhibits this gene (probably some type of DNA transcription regulator inhibitor) as it’s newly identified.
I hope this helps, but I do want to stress the fact that this is not the type of information you want to include in any sort of school project without linking it back to a scholarly resource (which shouldn’t be hard to find).
Good luck, and study hard!
Blake (Future_HT_Doc)
Editorial Assistant
April 5, 2011 @ 10:03 pm
Hi,
I’m working on a school project.
Do you know what the inhibitor is to stop hair growth?
Or perhaps, stop the production of LHX2?
February 8, 2011 @ 2:25 pm
Kumar,
Drinking a beer at the end of each week has no effect on hair loss. It’s likely that the loss is being caused by something else (ie: genetics) and I recommend making an appointment with a dermatologist, discussing the situation, and investigating preventive medications like finasteride/Propecia (https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/product/PROF/PropeciaFinasteride/) and minoxidil/Rogaine (https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/category/ROGA/Rogaine-Products/). Good luck!
Blake (Future_HT_Doc)
Editorial Assistant
February 5, 2011 @ 12:23 am
hi.. iam lossing my hair an i use to drink beer every weak end is it problem from this………..