NEW YORK (UPI) -- Scientists at the Ito Lab at New York University's Langone Medical Center say they have identified the protein that causes gray hair.
Researchers, using black mice as test subjects, isolated a protein identified as 'wnt' as the cause of gray hair and that a cure will eventually be found, ABC News reported.
"Mouse and the human hairs are very similar in the way that they are structured and the way they contain melanocyte stem cells," said Piul Rabbani, the graduate student leading the study. "We found that the wnt signaling pathway is activated the same way."
He said the wnt protein coordinates pigmentation between cells and the breakthrough means the wnt protein could be added to hair grooming products or supplements, putting an end to graying hair.
"Our hair follicles and the pigmentation from the melanocyte stem cells work in a very similar fashion, so it definitely can be applied at some point in the future," Rabbani told ABC News.
Copyright 2011 by United Press International
Source Science & Technology online journal
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