650 Controlling mTORC1 activity as a novel therapeutic strategy for managing human hair growth and pigmentation

Abstract

The mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) exerts multiple physiological functions, including nutrient sensing and the control of metabolism, proliferation, senescence and Wnt signaling. Yet, the role of mTORC1 activity in human hair follicle (HF) biology remains unknown. Since patients with a loss-of-function mutation of the key endogenous inhibitor of mTORC1 activity, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), can show poliosis, we probed the hypothesis that mTORC1 regulates human HF pigmentation, using HF organ culture.