Loss of hair pigmentation, going gray, has been associated with activation of innate immune system and viral infection, in response to serious illness or chronic stress. Researchers claim to have been able to discover connections between genes which contribute to hair colour and genes which notify bodies of pathogenic infection, as published in the journal PLOS Biology.
The innate immune system kicks into high gear when the body is under attack from bacteria or infection. All cells have ability to detect foreign invaders and respond by producing signaling interferon molecules to signal other cells to take action via turning on gene expression which inhibits viral replication, increasing host defenses, and activates immune effector cells.
