IMMORTALISATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF BALDING AND NON-BALDING DERMAL PAPILLA CELL LINES AND THEIR RESPONSE TO OXIDATIVE STRESS
In association with Professor Mike Philpott of the Centre for Cutaneous Research, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and The London, Queen Marys’ School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London.
Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is an inherited androgen (male hormone)-dependent, progressive thinning of the scalp hair that follows a defined pattern. The mechanism of action of the androgens in hair follicles is poorly understood.
Cultured hair cells from balding follicles are very difficult to obtain, grow very slowly in the lab and have a limited life span before they stop growing. In this study, immortalised cell lines were produced that show similar characteristics to naturally occurring cells. These will be of major help to us in our attempt to understand the actions of hormones on hair growth and enable the development of better treatment for male hormone-dependent hair disorders.
This study has been published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and was presented at the 14th annual conference of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery in 2006, as well as various other hair research meetings in 2007 and 2008. Professor Philpott was invited to present this work at the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery 15th Annual Scientific Meeting in September 2007 in Las Vegas by the programme chairman after liaising with Drs Farjo