Web article. Stem cell research solves baldness

Ironically, the treatment involves cellular metabolism, pyruvate and the production of more lactate.
“Our observations about hair follicle stem cell metabolism prompted us to examine whether genetically diminishing the entry of pyruvate into the mitochondria would force hair follicle stem cells to make more lactate, and if that would activate the cells and grow hair more quickly,” said Christofk, an associate professor of biological chemistry and molecular and medical pharmacology.

The research team first blocked the production of lactate genetically in mice and showed that this prevented hair follicle stem cell activation. Conversely, in collaboration with the Rutter lab at University of Utah, they increased lactate production genetically in the mice and this accelerated hair follicle stem cell activation, increasing the hair cycle.

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/u...-way-to-activate-stem-cells-to-make-hair-grow
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Forbin said:
Ironically, the treatment involves cellular metabolism, pyruvate and the production of more lactate.
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Yes, I agree about the relationship. Hair loss was the first presign of ME as it first attempted to hijack me. But after 5 years, the once stark bald areas seem to be making a slow and concerted comeback. Only time will tell, and I hope I win! It’s time to throw the ME baby out with the bath water!
 
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Hair loss CBT/GET:

Write down all your negative thoughts and feelings and fears about your hair loss. Take your time, and think back to the recurring themes you’ve been subconsciously exploring in your mind for the last few days, weeks, or months.

Add fitness and exercise in your daily routine. You could clean the house, mow the lawn, run a marathon, walk around the block, climb a mountain . . .

It's that simple.


 
Mij said:
Hair loss CBT/GET:

Write down all your negative thoughts and feelings and fears about your hair loss. Take your time, and think back to the recurring themes you’ve been subconsciously exploring in your mind for the last few days, weeks, or months.

Add fitness and exercise in your daily routine. You could clean the house, mow the lawn, run a marathon, walk around the block, climb a mountain . . .

It's that simple.
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Someone could develop a lightning process treatment with two pieces of paper to jump on, one says don't be like George Costanza and the other say my hair is growing back. Then we do a sham study to prove it works, and charge high prices per course of treatments
 
Luther Blissett said:
Can I respectfully remind people that 'baldness'
  1. is not just a problem that affects men
  2. it includes conditions of alopecia
  3. it can be traumatising to people
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No argument but its "funny" that it gets more research money then a debilitating and sometimes deadly disease. I think posters are just blowing off some steam over this injustice.
 
Alvin said:
No argument but its "funny" that it gets more research money then a debilitating and sometimes deadly disease. I think posters are just blowing off some steam over this injustice.
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Agreed, it's not being done out of malice, just asking people to think of others affected. :)

It would be pretty cool if there could be a future treatment that could help types of baldness, especially in children and women who are not generally thought of as being at risk.
 
@Trish This article seems clearer as to what was being studied, why, and who funded it. :)

https://www.femtomedicine.com/ucla-...e-stem-cells-to-make-hair-grow-ucla-newsroom/

UCLA researchers have discovered a new way to activate the stem cells in the hair follicle to make hair grow. The research, led by scientists Heather Christofk and William Lowry, may lead to new drugs that could promote hair growth for people with baldness or alopecia, which is hair loss associated with such factors as hormonal imbalance, stress, aging or chemotherapy treatment.
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The research was supported by a
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine training grant,
a New Idea Award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,
the National Cancer Institute (R25T CA098010),
the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01-GM081686 and R01-GM0866465),
the National Institutes of Health (RO1GM094232),
an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant (RSG-16-111-01-MPC),
the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (5R01AR57409),
a Rose Hills Foundation Research Award and the Gaba Fund.
The Rose Hills award and the Gaba Fund are administered through the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center.
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Trish said:
Thanks, Luther. I confess I'd run out of energy for reading articles.
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No problem :hug:

Here's a video from the lead author of the paper explaining what they are studying.



From what I understand, she is part of a wider group who are studying stem cells in different organs, in her team they are studying the skin. Part of the reason for studying this area is to see the relationship between skin cells and cancer. They also seem to have a focus on creating commercial products.

If they can produce a topical cream for regrowing hair, this seems to me to be a good way to produce a product that would provide income for further wider research.
 
Since this is a forum for PwME, and I am a member, and I have ME, and I have baldness, I feel that I have a right to speak my mind about this topic.

I feel that baldness is more a cosmetic issue, that offers options of hats and wigs, if one feels emotionally inclined to cover up the issue. Regarding ME, which is not a cosmetic issue, I can’t go to the store and purchase an item that takes away my PEM.

I feel that given a choice between investing research dollars into curing baldness vs. curing ME, I vote for curing ME.

I also feel that in the US, where I live, there is too much of an emphasis placed on cosmetic issues. When I see research dollars funded into cosmetic issues, while ME is so poorly underfunded, I am not pleased. I feel that I am not the only member on this forum that feels this way. I feel that we, as members, should be able to let off steam about this issue, since I feel it’s a sensitive topic among us.
 
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Hair loss is devastating. ME caused mine. There have been days I thought I could rock bald if I felt well and was vibrantly healthy, but there have been plenty of days I would have gladly thrown myself in bed just to not be grieved by the person reflected in the mirror.

It really isn't an either/or thing. Loss is loss and it all hurts. I am thankful that medicine is starting to realize that what you see outside is not "normal" but an extension of what is inside and I am hopeful that these hair loss studies will work backwards in providing answers for the root cause of some of the things that plague us - like ME.
 
MErmaid said:
I feel that given a choice between investing research dollars into curing baldness vs. curing ME, I vote for curing ME.
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With respect, I was trying to point out that:

  • The funding mainly came from cancer charities and funds
  • it is part of research into things like the causes of skin cancer
I am unable to find any research funds that is going towards Male Pattern Baldness in and of itself. I've found funding for exploring the link between baldness and prostate cancer, the link between baldness and heart disease, etc.

This whole thing we have about research money going into male baldness seems a red herring based on a misunderstanding of what the funds were for.

We can be upset with amounts and uses of funding without belittling sufferers of other illnesses.
 
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