Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Promotes Aging-Associated Hair Graying in Mice

The 2017 study "Wnt/β-catenin signaling promotes aging-associated hair graying in mice" found that increased Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hair follicle stem cells led to hair graying, a common sign of aging, due to the depletion of melanocyte stem cells responsible for hair pigmentation. The researchers observed that β-catenin, a protein involved in this pathway, was significantly increased in the skin of aged mice compared to young mice. This increase was associated with the exhaustion of melanocyte stem cells in hair follicles, leading to hair graying. The study, involving 48 mice, suggested that inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling could potentially prevent or delay hair graying, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms behind hair graying and potential therapeutic targets for preventing or treating this condition.