Melanocyte stem cells and hair graying

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the relationship between melanocyte stem cells in the hair follicle bulge and hair graying so as to fully understand their key role in the pathogenesis of hair graying.

Methods: The published articles about "hair graying, hair color, pigmentation disorders" and "melanocyte stem cells, melanocyte" were searched and analyzed in PubMed to explore their relationship.

Results: Melanocytes in hair bulb are involved in the pathogenesis of hair graying as well as the melanocyte stem cells in hair follicle bulge also play important roles in the formation of hair graying through some ways.

Conclusion: Loss of melanocyte stem cells in hair follicle bulge is one of the main reasons of hair graying, and more researches are needed to explain the underlying mechanisms of ectopic differentiation of melanocyte stem cells in different individual.

Keywords: ectopic differentiation of melanocyte stem cells; hair graying; melanocyte; melanocyte stem cells.