Gene Delivery to the Hair Follicle
September 2003
in “
Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings
”
gene therapy hair follicle disorders hair follicle biology genetic basis of hair growth genetic basis of hair loss gene delivery methods topical application intradermal injection ex vivo approaches gene transfection GFP-expressing adenoviral vectors hair growth genetic mutations transient expression hair follicle gene therapy hair loss adenoviral vectors
TLDR Gene therapy shows promise for treating hair loss by targeting hair follicles.
The document from 2003 discussed the potential of gene therapy for treating hair follicle disorders, emphasizing the accessibility and manipulability of hair follicles. It highlighted progress in understanding hair follicle biology and the genetic basis of hair growth and loss. Various gene delivery methods, such as topical application, intradermal injection, and ex vivo approaches, were explored, showing promising results in inducing hair growth and correcting genetic mutations. Early-stage research demonstrated successful gene transfection in hair follicles, with studies achieving up to 79% transduction using GFP-expressing adenoviral vectors in mice. Although some methods resulted in transient expression, the research suggested that gene therapy could offer more effective treatments for hair loss compared to current methods, providing a theoretical basis for future hair follicle gene therapy.