Researchers from the University of Tokyo have found that hair graying may not just be a sign of aging, but a kind of protective reaction of the body against cancer. A study conducted on mice showed an unexpected link between the graying process and the development of melanoma – a dangerous type of skin cancer.
As we age and under the influence of the environment, cells are constantly subjected to stress. This process, known as the exposome, damages DNA and affects aging and the development of diseases. Stem cells, the universal "builders" of the body capable of transforming into different types of tissues, are particularly vulnerable.
In a new study, published in the journal Nature Cell Biology, Japanese scientists examined a specific type of these cells – melanocyte stem cells, which are responsible for pigment production and are located in hair follicles. These cells determine whether our hair will be dark or silver.
When these cells encountered severe DNA damage, they ceased to divide and entered a stage of irreversible "aging," leading to pigment loss and, consequently, graying. This process has been termed senescence differentiation – it seems to "sacrifice" color for the safety of the organism.
Graying or Cancer – The Choice of Cells Under Pressure
However, the researchers noted that not all types of damage lead cells to choose "retirement." When exposed to certain carcinogens, melanocyte stem cells ignored the damage and continued to divide – this could be the first step toward tumor formation.
In simple terms, stem cells have two paths:
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"Age" and gray, thereby avoiding potential mutation;
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Continue to divide, risking the onset of cancer.
This means that graying and skin cancer are not such distant phenomena, but two opposing outcomes of the same biological reaction.
Scientists emphasize that hair graying does not directly protect against cancer. However, the very process that triggers graying may be part of a natural self-defense system.
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