Mutation of the Human Hairless Gene in Atrichia Universalis

The study identified a mutation in the human homologue of the murine hairless gene on chromosome 8p12 in a Pakistani family with autosomal recessive atrichia universalis, a rare form of hereditary hair loss distinct from common types like androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. Atrichia universalis, unlike these polygenic conditions, follows a Mendelian inheritance pattern. The hairless mouse was previously suggested as a model for this condition. The discovery of a gene encoding a transcription factor crucial for hair growth could lead to new treatments targeting cytokines and growth factors involved in the hair growth cycle.