For these reasons, all people get gray hair

How do you get gray hair??

Are you one of those people who have already discovered some gray hair? Surely this is a normal part of aging, but have you ever wondered how these gray hairs actually arise and why some people get gray hair earlier than others? Researchers now found that the immune system attacks the so-called MITF gene. This helps the Melanzyten in the production of the pigment melanin, which is responsible for the color of hair, eyes and skin.

The researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham found in their current study that an attack of the immune system affects a protein in the body, which is involved in the coloring of hair, skin and eyes. This attack causes the hair to start to turn gray. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "PLOS Biology".

The graying of the hair is determined by a special gene. When this is attacked by the immune system, gray hair develops. (Image: Jacob Lund / fotolia.com)

Immune system attacks MITF gene

In their recent study, researchers from the University of Alabama wanted to find out why our hair loses pigments in old age, which in turn results in graying hair. For this, the scientists conducted a study on mice. They analyzed in particular how attacks of the immune system influence the so-called MITF gene. This protein helps the melanocytes to function properly. The so-called melanocytes are the cells responsible for melanin, which give our eyes, the skin and hair their color, explain the experts.

What role do infections play??

After fully analyzing their investigation, the scientists found that the MITF gene probably also controls the release of interferons, a protein that fights viral infections. The scientists had already suggested that even infections can have an impact on the likelihood of gray hair formation.

Immune system attacks melanocytes

If not enough MITF was present, the mice in the experiment produced an excess of interferons, which then forces the immune system to attack the melanocytes and cause the growth of non-pigmented or gray hair. The scientists are not yet aware whether the observations of the current investigation can really be transferred one-to-one to humans. However, the physicians believe that the study's findings may explain why some people get gray hair earlier in life.

With special disposition infection can cause gray hair

If an individual is actually healthy, but has a particular predisposition to gray hair, a simple viral infection can be enough to cause the decline of melanocytes and melanocyte stem cells, which in turn prematurely causes gray hair, explains study author Melissa Harris of the University of Alabama in a press release.

Study causes better understanding

The scientists also found in their investigation, however, that such an infection does not immediately lead to gray hair. The results of the study highlight a mechanism that helps the experts to better understand which biological contributions contribute to the visible signs of aging. (As)