Scienceblogtwo

A family of enzymes found inside hair follicles can be inhibited, according to recent research from Columbia University, to promote hair growth. Science Advances' online edition contains a study article that was conducted. In studies using mouse and human hair follicles, Angela M. Christiano, PhD, and associates discovered that topical application of medications that inhibit the Janus kinase (JAK) family of enzymes promotes quick and robust hair growth. According to the study, JAK inhibitors may be used to stop hair loss caused by male pattern baldness and other conditions where hair follicles are kept in a dormant state in order to promote hair growth. The American Food and Drug Administration has authorized two JAK inhibitors. Ruxolitinib, one of them, is approved for the treatment of blood disorders, while the other one is for rheumatoid arthritis (tofacitinib). Both are undergoing clinical studies for the treatment of autoimmune hair loss caused by alopecia areata and plaque ps...

The enzyme DOT1L, a stem cell self-renewal factor, has been found to be essential for mice to continue generating sperm throughout maturity, according to research from the University of Pennsylvania. Contrary to women who are born with all of their eggs, men may continue to produce sperm throughout their adult lives. They must continuously replenish the spermatogonial stem cells in order to produce sperm. This stem cell renewal is dependent on a recently discovered stem cell self-renewal component known as DOT1L, according to research by Jeremy Wang of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and associates. The researchers showed that DOT1L-deficient animals are unable to maintain spermatogonial stem cells, which impairs their capacity to continuously produce sperm. The discovery, which was published in the journal Genes and Development, brings the number of stem cell renewal factors that have already been found by researchers up to a few more. The fact that mice l...