The Walking Dead: Sequential Nuclear and Organelle Destruction During Hair Development
June 2018
in “
British Journal of Dermatology
”
TLDR Hair cells lose their nucleus and mitochondria in a specific order as they fill with keratin, which could help develop treatments for hair issues.
The study investigated the process of hair cell transformation into keratin-filled structures, revealing that this occurs in a highly organized manner within the first 1mm of the hair follicle. Initially, hair cells discard their nucleus, ceasing their ability to make decisions, but retain their mitochondria to continue functioning. Eventually, they fill with keratin and discard their mitochondria. This understanding could guide the development of treatments targeting the early stages of hair follicle development to address hair thinning, greying, and loss.