Determining the hair cycle in humans, by measuring protein or mRNA levels and classification as anagenic or catagenic, also for screening therapeutic or cosmetic agents that affect hair growth

摘要

Method for determining the hair cycle in humans. Method for determining the hair cycle in humans comprises: (a) recovering, from hair, a mixture of proteins, mRNA or their fragments; (b) examining the mixture for at least one protein, mRNA or fragment (A) that, from a serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), is known to be differentially expressed during the anagenic and catagenic follicular phases; (c) comparing the results of (b) with SAGE-derived expression patterns; and (d) the mixture of (b) is classified as growing and healthy if most (A) are more strongly expressed in the anagenic phase, and as regressing and unhealthy if most (A) are more strongly expressed in the catagenic phase. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) similar method in which at least two (A) are quantified, their expression ratio is determined and this is compared with that found in anagenic or catagenic follicles; (2) test kit for determining hair growth that comprises agents for performing the new methods; (3) biochip for determining the hair cycle in humans; (4) test method for determining the effects of cosmetics or pharmaceuticals on the hair cycle; (5) test kit for method (4); and (6) screening method for identifying cosmetics and pharmaceuticals for treating diseases or disorders of hair or its growth. ACTIVITY : Depilatory; Endocrine-Gen. No details of tests are given. MECHANISM OF ACTION : None given.