科學家發現脫髮原因

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have pinpointed a protein that triggers hair loss, BBC reported.

據英國廣播公司報道，賓夕法尼亞大學的研究人員找到了一種引起脫髮的蛋白質。

They found levels of a key protein called prostaglandin D synthase are elevated in the cells of hair follicles located within bald patches on the scalp, but not in hairy areas, and transplanted human hairs stopped growing when given the protein.

他們發現，在沒長頭髮的區域，毛囊中含有較多的前列腺素D合酶，而在有頭髮的地方，毛囊中則沒有該物質，且一旦有了該蛋白質，移植的人的頭髮就停止生長。

The halting of hair growth is triggered when the protein binds to a receptor on the cells of hair follicles, said Prof. George Cotsarelis, who led the research.

研究帶頭人喬治•考茨裏利斯教授認爲，該蛋白質附着在毛囊細胞中的某個受體上後就會使頭髮停止生長。

The professor also said that there is potential for developing a treatment that can be applied to the scalp to prevent baldness and possibly help hair re-grow.

考茨裏利斯教授說，現在很有希望研製出一種可以用在頭皮上的藥物，它不僅可防止禿頭，還可能幫助頭髮重新生長。