Melanocyte stem cell maintenance and hair graying

Cell. 2005 Apr 8;121(1):9-12. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2005.03.021.

Abstract

Hair graying is an obvious sign of human aging, yet little was known about its causes. Two recent papers provide compelling evidence that hair graying is due to incomplete melanocyte stem cell maintenance and identify Pax3 and Mitf as key molecules that help regulate the balance between melanocyte stem cell maintenance and differentiation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Hair Color / physiology*
  • Hair Follicle / cytology*
  • Hair Follicle / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Melanocytes / cytology*
  • Melanocytes / physiology
  • Mice
  • Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / physiology
  • PAX3 Transcription Factor
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • MITF protein, human
  • Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor
  • Mitf protein, mouse
  • PAX3 Transcription Factor
  • PAX3 protein, human
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors