Unconventional Haircare

January 2023 in “ Nature Immunology ”

Hui‐Fern Koay, Laura K. Mackay

invariant natural killer T cells CCR10+ iNKT cells iron metabolism transferrin hair follicle development hair growth

TLDR Certain immune cells help hair growth by regulating iron in the skin.

A specialized subset of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, identified as CCR10+ iNKT cells, plays a crucial role in early life by populating the skin and regulating iron metabolism through the provision of transferrin. This process is essential for promoting hair follicle development. The study highlights the importance of these cells in the context of hair growth, suggesting a novel immunological mechanism that supports hair follicle development.

View this study on nature.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

4 / 4 results

research Developmentally Programmed Early-Age Skin Localization of iNKT Cells Supports Local Tissue Development and Homeostasis

14 citations , January 2023 in “Nature Immunology”

iNKT cells help develop and maintain healthy skin in young mice.

research Maintenance of Barrier Tissue Integrity by Unconventional Lymphocytes

9 citations , April 2021 in “Frontiers in Immunology”

Unconventional lymphocytes are important for quick immune responses and healing of skin and mucosal barriers.

research Immune Modulation of Hair Follicle Regeneration

29 citations , May 2020 in “npj Regenerative Medicine”

Immune cells help regulate hair growth, and better understanding this can improve hair loss treatments.

research The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review

134 citations , December 2018 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

Some vitamins and minerals like vitamin D and iron can help with certain types of hair loss, but more research is needed for others.

Similar Research

5 / 179 results

research Developmentally Programmed Early-Age Skin Localization of iNKT Cells Supports Local Tissue Development and Homeostasis

14 citations , January 2023 in “Nature Immunology”

iNKT cells help develop and maintain healthy skin in young mice.

research Scarring Hair Follicle Destruction Is Driven by the Collapse of EGFR-Protected JAK-STAT1-Sensitive Stem Cell Immune Privilege

October 2023 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)”

A protein called EGFR protects hair follicle stem cells, and when it's disrupted, hair follicles can be damaged, but blocking certain pathways can restore hair growth.

research T Cell and Bacterial Microbiota Interaction at Intestinal and Skin Epithelial Interfaces

January 2023 in “Discovery immunology”

T cells and bacteria in the gut and skin help maintain health and protect against disease.

research Tregs: Where We Are and What Comes Next?

130 citations , November 2017 in “Frontiers in Immunology”

The conclusion is that Treg-targeted therapies have potential, but more knowledge of Treg biology is needed for effective treatments, including for cancer.

research Human αβ and γδ T Cells in Skin Immunity and Disease

83 citations , June 2018 in “Frontiers in immunology”

Certain types of T cells are essential for healthy skin and play a role in skin diseases, but more research is needed to improve treatments.