Investigation by Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Biomarker Candidates for Aging in the Hair Cortex

October 2011 in “ PloS one ”

Michihiko Waki, Kenji Onoue, Tsukasa Takahashi, Kensuke Goto, Yûsuke Saito, Katsuaki Inami, Ippei Makita, Yurika Angata, Tomomi Suzuki, Mihi Yamashita, Noriharu Sato, Shunya Nakamura, Dai Yuki, Yuki Sugiura, Nobuhiro Zaima, Naoko Goto‐Inoue, Takahiro Hayasaka, Yutaka Shimomura, Mitsutoshi Setou

dihydrouracil 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid O-phosphoethanolamine imaging mass spectrometry biomarker hair cortex DHMA IMS

TLDR Certain molecules in hair change with age and could be used for cosmetic treatments.

The study utilized imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to investigate molecular changes in hair associated with aging by analyzing hair samples from 15 young (20±5 years old) and 15 older (50±5 years old) volunteers. Three molecules were identified with altered levels between the age groups: dihydrouracil (m/z 153.00) and 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid (DHMA, m/z 207.04) had higher intensities in younger individuals, while O-phosphoethanolamine (m/z 164.00) was more intense in older individuals. These molecules, particularly dihydrouracil and DHMA, may play roles in maintaining hair properties and could be targets for cosmetic treatments. The study demonstrated that IMS is an effective method for mapping biomolecule distribution in hair.

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