HairLossFight.com
Hair Loss Fight Join Discussions Forums

Site Navigation

Hair Loss Forums
Get help, support and advice, discuss the latest treatments, hair transplants and more...

Hair Loss Treatments
Get detailed information on products and treatments...

Hair Loss Product Reviews
Read reviews of products and treatments along with concealers...

Hair Loss News
Get the latest news on hair loss and read interviews with prominent doctors and researchers...

Hair Loss Experts
Ask questions and get answers from our panel of hair loss experts!

Hair Loss Blogs
View regularly updated diaries of people with hair loss on all things hair-loss-related!

Hair Loss Pictures
View galleries of before and after pics, and find out what others are using to treat their hair loss...

Hair Transplants
Learn everything you need to know about hair transplants and hair transplant surgery...

Hair Loss Research
Learn about different types of hair loss, read research abstracts and articles and our hair loss FAQ...


Editor's Views

RSS Feed

Progressing Nicely
... The post-op redness is not very visible anymore and I can comfortably go out without wearing a cap or even some kind of a concealer like Toppik or DermMatch ... more ...


Laminin-511: Hair Growth Molecule Discovered by Stanford Researchers

August 6, 2008

Basically, if you're losing your hair, it's good to be a mouse as over the years several different potential treatments for hair loss have been discovered that seem to work well on mice (such as the hedgehog molecule, which has yet to be turned into a treatment for humans).

The August 1 issue of Genes and Development published the results of a study on a molecule called Laminin-511, which, according to Stanford researcher, Jing Gao, acts as a signalling protein that essentially tells hair follicles to grow.

Genetically engineered mice without the gene for Laminin-511 were used by the researchers.

The hair follicle is a complex system as it is really a mini organ, so researchers still have a lot to learn about how it works and all of the processes involved in growing hair.

The discovery of the Laminin-511 protein is another piece of the puzzle that could take researchers a significant step closer to a better treatment for hair loss than the sparse array of existing F.D.A. approved ones, but as with any new potential treatment this could be years away.

Interestingly, the researchers believe that the molecule may also be involved in the growth of other body parts, and appendages like arms and legs.

It's not clear whether Laminin-511 is involved in the most prevalent form of hair loss in humans (Androgenetic Alopecia). Further research is required to see whether injecting the protein under the skin will cause hair to grow.



Return to News and Interviews.

Get Talking!

Join Our Forums!
Help make HairLossFight.com a useful resource for others...


Disclaimers, Conditions and Terms of Use

About Us

Copyright 2002-2008 HairLossFight.com. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy


Hair Loss Resources