Specific genetic differences found between balding and non-balding hair cells
October 19, 2004
Japanese scientists have identified two genetic components, BMP2 and ephrin A3, that have decreased expression in dermal papilla cells (hair cells) in the balding areas of the scalp. They have observed that these genetic components raised the rate of growth of outer root sheath cells. They have hypothesised that BMP2 and ephrin A3 are growth promoters in the hair cycle. This research is promising, because it could lead to new medications or even gene therapy to treat hair loss.
The following abstract of their article is from PubMed.com:
J Dermatol Sci. 2004 Oct;36(1):25-32.
Different gene expression profile observed in dermal papilla cells related to androgenic alopecia by DNA macroarray analysis.
Midorikawa T, Chikazawa T, Yoshino T, Takada K, Arase S.
Biological Science Research Center, Lion Corporation, Odawara City, 100 Tajima Odawara, Kanagawa 256-0811, Japan.
Background: Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of baldness in men. Although etiological studies have proved that androgen is one of the causes of this symptom, the defined molecular mechanism underlying androgen-related actions remains largely unknown. Objectives: To clarify the difference in the gene expression profile of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in skin affected by baldness. Methods: DNA macroarray study was carried out on cultured DPCs from AGA skin comparing with DPCs from skin that is not affected by baldness. Results: From DNA macroarray analysis, we observed that 107 of the 1185 analyzed genes had differing expression levels. A marked difference was observed in the decreased gene expression of BMP2 and ephrin A3 and up-regulated in NT-4 gene. In order to clarify the roles of BMP2 and ephrin A3 in the hair follicles, we examined the proliferation of hair follicle keratinocyte and expression of a hair acidic keratin gene. Both BMP2 and ephrin A3 raised the proliferation rate of the outer root sheath cells (ORSCs) and induced gene expression in acidic hair keratin 3-II. Conclusion: These results lead us to the hypothesis that both BMP2 and ephrin A3 function as hair growth promoting factors in the hair cycle.
Return to News and Interviews.
|
