Uncovering the Mechanism Behind Gray Hair

Stem cells required for hair pigmentation, called melanocyte stem cells (McSCs), can become "stuck" in a particular compartment of the hair follicle, preventing their differentiation and the maintenance of hair color, according to a new study by NYU Langone researchers. The researchers used 3D imaging and single-cell RNA sequencing to track McSC cells in mice as they aged and moved within hair follicles during a two-year study. The study suggests that the loss of chameleon-like function in McSCs may be responsible for graying and loss of hair color, and there could be opportunities to intervene with hair graying by helping the "jammed" cells to move between the hair follicle compartments once again.