Carcinogenesis Of The Human Scalp: An Immunometabolic Centered View
September 2024
in “
Preprints.org
”
Studysummary In this review, the authors propose that hair on the scalp may protect against non-melanoma skin cancer by maintaining an IL-17 biased immunosurveillance, with hair loss potentially increasing the risk of skin cancer due to disrupted immune monitoring.
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The document explores the role of hair and the underlying stroma in scalp carcinogenesis, noting that hair provides immunological protection against nonmelanoma skin cancers through IL-17 mediated immunosurveillance, although it does not prevent UV-induced mutations. Aging scalps with hair loss and stromal changes become more susceptible to cancer due to decreased Sirt3 levels and increased TGF-beta. The study suggests that sun protection and preventing hair loss could reduce scalp cancer risk. A novel treatment for alopecia, involving a mitochondrial pyruvate transport inhibitor, is being investigated for its potential to promote hair growth and possibly prevent scalp cancer.
