Premature Graying as a Consequence of Compromised Antioxidant Activity in Hair Bulb Melanocytes and Their Precursors

The 2014 study on 9 Chinese patients under 25 with premature gray hair found that compromised antioxidant activity in gray hair follicles affects both mature hair bulb melanocytes and their immature precursor cells. There was a significant down-regulation of melanogenesis-related genes in unpigmented hair bulbs and of marker genes typical for melanocyte precursor cells in unpigmented mid-segments. The study also found that catalase protein expression and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities were strongly repressed in unpigmented hair follicles. These findings suggest that reduced levels of catalase protein and activity could be contributing to the graying of hair.