The Cycling Hair Follicle as an Ideal Systems Biology Research Model

June 2010 in “ Experimental Dermatology ”

Yusur Al-Nuaimi, Gerold Baier, Rachel Watson, Cheng Ming Chuong, Ralf Paus

hair follicle stem cell regenerative medicine chronobiology follicular automaton model hair growth balding patterns hair growth disorders HF FAM

TLDR The hair follicle is a great model for research to improve hair growth treatments.

The document from 2010 presents the hair follicle (HF) as an excellent model for systems biology research due to its complex molecular, structural, and temporal characteristics, as well as its rich stem cell content and cyclic transformations. The authors suggest that studying the HF can advance understanding in stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, chronobiology, and translational medicine. They discuss the challenges of understanding HF cycling without a systems approach and introduce the follicular automaton model (FAM) to predict changes in hair growth and understand balding patterns. The document calls for integrating mathematical models with experimental research to improve treatments for hair growth disorders.

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research Methods in Hair Research: How to Objectively Distinguish Between Anagen and Catagen in Human Hair Follicle Organ Culture

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