Aging and Colony-Forming Efficiency of Human Hair Follicle Keratinocytes

The study by L'Oreal Advanced Research found that aging negatively impacts the clonogenic potential of human hair follicle keratinocytes. The research involved 28 participants across three age groups: 18-25 years (n=9), 40-45 years (n=10), and 60-70 years (n=9). Results indicated no significant difference in cell growth between the 18-25 and 40-45 age groups, but a marked decrease in the 60-70 age group. There was also a significant reduction in the average number of clones and colony area in participants over 40 compared to those aged 18-25. The proportion of holoclones, which are crucial for growth potential, significantly declined with age, while meroclones slightly increased in those over 40, though not significantly. These outcomes suggest that the regenerative potential of skin and hair diminishes with age due to a decrease in the earliest cell precursors. Statistical analysis using t-tests confirmed the significance of these findings, with a p-value of less than 0.05.