Khaberni - In an unexpected scientific discovery, Japanese researchers have found a possible link between the appearance of gray hair and one of the most dangerous types of skin cancer.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo's School of Medicine and Dentistry, led by Dr. Emi K. Nishimura, found that the stem cells responsible for producing hair pigment in hair follicles respond to stress in very different ways, either by dying, leading to graying, or by surviving and dividing abnormally, which could pave the way for the formation of melanoma tumors, according to Fox News.
The team used mouse models and human samples to study melanin cells. When exposed to factors that cause DNA damage, such as chemicals mimicking ultraviolet radiation, the researchers noticed some cells stopped regenerating and turned into mature pigment cells that quickly die, leaving the hair colorless.
However, when the environment surrounding the cells was modified to support their survival, the damaged cells continued to divide despite genetic damage, and began to behave like cancer cell behaviors.
The study suggested that subtle signals from the surrounding environment, such as the molecule known as KIT ligand which stimulates growth, play a key role in determining cell fate. This delicate balance between cell death or survival could be the difference between natural graying and graying that paves the way for cancer.
Nishimura said: "Graying and melanoma are not two separate processes, but two different outcomes of the stem cells' response to stress. The death of melanin cells during graying is a defense mechanism to get rid of the damaged ones, while their continued division could lead to melanoma tumors."
Although the study was conducted on mice, its results could help explain why some people develop melanoma without warning signs, and it opens the door to understanding how natural aging processes can protect the body from tumors.
The researchers confirm that this discovery highlights the precision of the body's balance in dealing with damaged cells, and how a slight deviation in this balance can be the difference between natural, safe graying and a deadly disease.
