Baldness Update

Specific genetic defect appears to play important role in male-pattern baldness.
WebMD (1/4, Warner) reported, "A genetic defect in the way hair follicle cells develop may play an important role in male-pattern baldness." There's been speculation that "male-pattern baldness is associated with a significant decrease in hair follicle size, which could be related to a loss of the hair follicle stem or progenitor cells necessary for normal development. To test this theory, researchers" at the University of Pennsylvania "compared the number of these cells in bald and non-bald scalp cell samples from people with AGA [androgenetic alopecia]."
A "complex series of analyses revealed that bald and haired tissue contain equivalent amounts of preserved stem cells, which give rise to progenitor cells," HealthDay (1/4, Mozes) reported. "Bald tissue, however, did not contain the normal amount of progenitor cells, suggesting a malfunction in the normal behavior of hair follicle stem cells." In other words, the "follicles that make hair don't go away completely, but they become miniaturized, to the point where the hair they normally make to replace hair when it naturally falls out becomes microscopic and therefore invisible," according to the paper in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
"That's good news, says the team, as, 'demonstrated preservation of hair follicle stem cells suggests potential reversibility of this condition,'" the USA Today (1/4, Vergano) "Science Fair" blog reported. "Experiments in mice suggest that progenitor cells grown from stem cells in test tubes may be lead to hair regrowth if applied as a treatment." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1/4, Johnson) "Health & Science Today" blog also covered the story.