Lab Links Gene To Aged Skin Problems, Cancer

Source: Oregon Health & Science University
Date: September 8, 2006

Summary:

Researchers have uncovered a pathway through which a gene's over-expression causes skin stem cells to switch from creating hair follicles to creating sebaceous glands. The discovery points to a new pathway that could some day be used as a therapeutic target for not only treating hair loss and oily skin, but prevent and treat cancer. In aged skin, a protein is overproduced, which triggers hair loss and sebaceous gland growth. The study is the first to definitively link the over-expression of the protein and the pathological changes that occur in aged skin.

Commentary: This finding seems as thought it could provide researchers a basis to treat diseases using a combination of gene manipulation and stem cell production.