Gene for Baldness Identified

An international research team headed by scientists at the University of Bonn has identified a gene linked to hair loss.

After 6 years of research they have found a gene that is responsible for a rare hereditary form of hair loss known as Hypotrichosis simplex (an inherited condition that affects both men and women who start to go bald during childhood).

The scientists now hope that their findings will lead to new therapies that will work with various forms of hair loss.

The researchers were able to find a gene variant linked to baldness. The variant of the P2Y5 gene was shown to cause early baldness.

A mutation in the P2Y5 gene prevents proteins called growth receptors on hair follicle cells from forming properly.

As result, lysophosphatidic acid (a substance needed to stimulate hair growth) could not attach to the defective receptors.

Scientists hope they will be able to develop drugs that mimic lysophosphatidic acid, and so boost hair growth.

The study is published in the journal Nature Genetics.

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