Gene therapy for hair loss

Medikament against hairloss, or hair transplant ( zu deutsch haartransplantation) are the usual options for hairloss patients. An big disadvantage that for some patients the hair restoration (in deutscher Sprache haartransplantation) can not give enough hairs.

Gene therapy for hair loss  - deutsch Haarausfall is a great solution, mainly for inherited hair. This treatment involves changing the genetic structure of the existing genes, which in turn alters the cell function. It is a mode of medical treatment; though very much in its infancy, it is definitely something worth exploring. The process involves unearthing how an inherited disorder at the level of molecular DNA causes baldness. With this kind of therapy, the hair follicles containing  DHT-sensitive cells can be converted into active follicles, which are DHT-resistant. In this way, it is possible to rejuvenate dormant hair follicles, which can then give rise to hair, more than once in the lifetime of a person.

This might sound very simple, but gene therapy for hair loss (haarausfall in deutsch) is far from anything simple. Figuring out which of the thousands of genes on a single strand of DNA are involved in the problem is no simple function. The next cumbersome step is that of altering the target genes so as to achieve the desired effect. But this is not the end of the story. Developing the ‘problem free’ target genes isn’t enough. These genes need to survive successfully in the body; which means that it should be able to function normally as well as defend itself against any noxious stimulus. It  is often seen that what works well ‘in vitro’ or in the controlled conditions of a science lab, doesn’t yield similar results when instated in the body.

Following intensive research, there is apparently some clarity regarding how the life cycle and growth of hair follicles work. But scientists are still a long way from getting to the bottom of the issue and altering the genetic consequence of inherited hair loss. Future studies are likely to involve the comparison of genes and the resulting proteins, in different hair follicles in a single individual. In a given patient, suffering from androgenic alopecia, some of the hair follicle cells express the characteristic DHT-resistance, especially the follicles at the back of the scalp. While in others cases, hair follicles in the same person may express characteristic DHT-sensitivity. This basically goes to show that though hair follicles contain cells which are containing identical DNA, they still express different characteristics. Hence identifying the responsible genes becomes tricky. Even if the incriminated gene is identified, scientists are still a long way from figuring out how the sequence of proteins needs to be changed, so as to harvest follicles resistant to DHT.

The final frontier for gene therapy for hair loss is developing and delivering genes which are an improvisation on the existing one; thereby assuring the birth and growth of healthy cells. Isolating the correct target genes is extremely crucial for gene therapy for hair loss. It is not enough to alter the mature cells alone, as the affect wears off once these cells die. For lasting effect, it is important to harvest healthy stem cells. These cells are capable of reproduction, which in turn assures that the healthy genes are passed on to the progeny, thereby curing the inherited disorder, for once and for all.

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