TLDR Wound-induced hair growth may help study regeneration and aging, but it's unclear if this ability decreases with age.
The document reviewed the phenomenon of wound-induced hair neogenesis (WIHN), where functional hair follicles regenerate during the healing of large skin wounds in some mammals. It highlighted WIHN as a valuable system for studying mammalian regeneration and aging, noting that while the decline in hair follicle number and cycling with age was well-known, it was unclear if hair follicle regeneration also decreased with age. The review explored the cellular and molecular mechanisms of WIHN, discussed known age-related changes, and identified unanswered questions for future research.
February 2025 in “Science Advances” Wnt signaling helps regenerate hair follicles by affecting how skin cells sense and respond to mechanical forces.
2 citations
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May 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Mice can regrow hair on wounds due to specific cell interactions and mechanical forces not seen in rats.
1 citations
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April 2022 in “Regenerative Therapy” Activating the GDNF-GFRα1-RET signaling pathway could potentially promote skin and limb regeneration in humans and could be used to treat hair loss and promote wound healing.
10 citations
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October 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology” Wounds can regenerate hair in young mice, but this ability declines with age, offering insights for improving tissue regeneration in the elderly.
January 2025 in “PLoS ONE” ING5 is crucial for stem cell maintenance and preventing certain cancers.
7 citations
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February 2022 in “Stem cell reviews and reports” Skin cells show flexibility in healing wounds and forming tumors, with potential for treating hair disorders and chronic ulcers.