Hair Multiplication: New Research Provides Updates on Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Stem Cells and Hair Cloning Treatments
Hair multiplication, or the act of removing hair follicles and hair follicle stem cells, cloning the follicles/cells, and implanting the cloned follicles/cells into areas of balding scalp, is one of the most anticipated futuristic hair loss treatments. Though several methods of hair multiplication have been proposed, researchers still believe isolation, cloning, and multiplying dermal papilla stem cells from the hair bulb of the follicle represents the greatest chance of true multiplication.
In a new scientific publication, researchers at Harvard Medical School revisited the role of dermal papilla cells in hair follicle function, and confirmed the importance of these cells in the future of hair multiplication treatments. Recently, recommended hair restoration surgeon and hair follicle stem cell researcher Dr. Parsa Mohebi was kind enough to review the new article and share the important scientific information in “laymen’s terms” on his blog. According to Dr. Mohebi:
Hair stem cells and their role in the future of hair restoration has been a hot topic in recent years. It is easy to understand how success in the area of hair multiplication (or hair cloning) would be another quantum leap in hair restoration. People affected by genetic baldness could have the stem cells of hairs from their permanent zone multiplied for hair transplantation.
In a new article published by researchers at Harvard Medical School, a team reviewed critical stages of hair development and determined which stem cells are most important in follicle function and those best suited for hair multiplication treatments. The researchers found that the dermal papilla stem cells (located in the hair bulb) must be present for hair follicles to cycle normally and produce terminal hairs. The researchers also confirm that the dermal papilla’s interaction with stem cells from the bulge area leads to generation of a new hair. Laboratory tests on mice indicates that the number of dermal papilla cells in the follicle correlates with the size and shape of the hair produced.
During the study, the researchers selectively destroyed the dermal papilla (DP) cells in living mice. The results of the mouse dermal papilla manipulation demonstrated that:
- DP cell number dictates the size and shape of the hair.
- DP cells help develop hairs of different sizes or types.
- The number of DP cells plays a critical role in the size of hair shaft that will develop.
- DP cells play an important role in activation of stem cells leading to the formation of new hair shafts.
These scientists also observed that when the number of DP cells fall below a critical threshold, follicles fail to develop new hairs.
The article confirms the importance of dermal papilla stem cells and their role in hair multiplication treatments. As researchers continue to understand and define the role of follicular stem cells, the idea of true hair multiplication becomes a more realistic possibility.
Please check back for more hair multiplication updates in the future!
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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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