Korean researchers have identified dysfunction in a cellular organelle called the peroxisome as a primary cause of hair follicle aging and hair loss, marking a potential breakthrough in treating the condition that affects approximately 10 million people nationwide.
A research team led by Professor Jin Eun-jung at Wonkwang University's JABA Graduate School announced on the 12th that they have become the first in the world to establish the link between peroxisome dysfunction and hair loss. The findings have been accepted for publication in ACS Nano, an international journal in nanoscience.
Hair loss has become an age-agnostic condition in Korea, with roughly half of those affected in their 20s and 30s, according to estimates from the Korean Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. The affected population represents approximately 20% of the total population.
Previous research has focused primarily on mitochondrial abnormalities and hormonal changes. The Wonkwang team instead analyzed dermal papilla cells derived from hair loss patients, focusing on the relatively overlooked peroxisome. They found significantly impaired peroxisome-related metabolic pathways, including fatty acid beta-oxidation and reactive oxygen species removal.
The researchers also developed a next-generation catalyst called "nanozyme" that mimics peroxisome function. The treatment restores damaged cellular metabolic balance to induce hair follicle regeneration and demonstrated superior hair regrowth effects compared to minoxidil, a conventional treatment.
Dr. Kang Song-ryeong and master's student Choi Je-min from the Convergence Omics Research Institute served as co-first authors on the study.
"This research is significant in that it presents the possibility of fundamentally treating hair loss through cellular metabolism and organelle function recovery, rather than merely alleviating symptoms," Professor Jin said.