A study published in Nature Cell Biology reveals how melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) in hair follicles react differently to environmental stress. Researchers found that when McSCs suffered DNA damage, they underwent senescence-coupled differentiation, which leads to hair graying while preventing tumor formation. Conversely, exposure to chemical carcinogens caused these cells to self-renew, increasing melanoma risk. The balance between stem cell depletion and expansion depends on the type of damage and local signaling, suggesting implications for understanding aging and cancer susceptibility. Future research is needed to verify these pathways in human tissues.
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