Androgen-inducible TGF-beta1 from balding dermal papilla cells inhibits epithelial cell growth: a clue to understand paradoxical effects of androgen on human hair growth.

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FASEB J 2002 Dec;16(14):1967-9

Androgen-inducible TGF-beta1 from balding dermal papilla cells inhibits epithelial cell growth: a clue to understand paradoxical effects of androgen on human hair growth.

We attempted establishing an in vitro coculture system by using human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) from androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and keratinocytes (KCs) to explore the role of androgens in hair growth regulation. Androgen showed no significant effect on the growth of KCs when they were cocultured with DPCs from AGA. Because the expressions of mRNA of androgen receptor (AR) decreased during subcultivation of DPCs in vitro, we transiently transfected the AR expression vector into the DPCs and cocultured them with KCs. In this modified coculture, androgen significantly suppressed the growth of KCs by approximately 50%, indicating that overexpression of AR can restore the responsiveness of the DPCs to androgen in vivo. We found that androgen stimulated the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in the cocultured DPCs. ELISA assays demonstrated that androgen treatment increased the secretion of both total and active TGF-beta1 in the conditioned medium. Moreover, the neutralizing anti-TGF-beta1 antibody reversed the androgen-elicited growth inhibition of KCs in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that androgen-inducible TGF-beta1 derived from DPCs of AGA is involved in epithelial cell growth suppression in our coculture system, providing the clue to understand the paradoxical effects of androgens for human hair growth.

Contracept Fertil Sex (Paris) 1985 Dec;13(12):1265-8

Hair loss during treatment with oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptives with a dominant androgen component can cause or worsen androgen-dependent alopecia in women. This diagnosis can only be made if other causes of alopecia (which can occur at the same time as treatment with oral contraceptives) have been excluded. The patient's endocrine profile must be investigated sometimes, this being in order to detect any excess production of androgens. These types of alopecia call for the stopping of the oral contraceptive and sometimes also calls for oral anti-antigen treatment.

Ann Dermatol Venereol 2002 May;129(5 Pt 2):787-92

Hormonal interaction and hair growth

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss in men and women. This continuous process results in a form of alopecia that follows a definite pattern in those individuals who are genetically predisposed. Although clinically different, the pathogenetic pathways leading to this type of hair loss are thought to be similar in both sexes. A genetic predisposition is a feature of AGA, but the predisposing genes are still unknown. Our understanding, however, of the hormonal effects on hair growth is far more advanced. AGA can be defined as a dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-dependent process with continuous miniaturization of sensitive hair follicles. So far, we do not understand the molecular steps involved in androgen-dependent beard growth versus androgen-dependent hair loss. However, the local androgen metabolism plays a central role in the intrafollicular conversion of weak androgens, such as DHEAS, to more potent androgens such as T or DHT within the hair follicle. The dermal papilla plays a central role by exhibiting an array of important steroidogenic isoenzymes. Provided that the dermal papilla (DP) cell triggers and regulates the growth of hair follicles, this physiological role may be reflected by metabolic differences, which could account for differences in androgen sensitivity as observed in hair follicles from different body sites, and in conditions such as male pattern baldness. The observation of STS, 17beta-HSD, 3beta-HSD, 3alpha-HSD and type 2 5alpha-R-activity within the DP could be a clue to understanding the regulation of androgen action in the human hair follicle by local androgen modification on target cell level. Hence, some of the intrafollicular steroidogenic enzymes would be potential pharmaceutical targets for the treatment of AGA or hirsutism.

Pediatr Dermatol 2002 Jul-Aug;19(4):298-301

A clinical study of childhood alopecia areata in Singapore.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common cause of nonscarring alopecia. The aim of this epidemiologic study is to review the clinical characteristics and treatment of childhood alopecia areata in a mixed ethnic population. The study population consisted of a total of 392 children seen over a 4-year period with AA diagnosed before the age of 16 years. The female:male ratio was 1:1.4. There were 309 Chinese (78.8%), 51 Malays (13.0%), and 32 Indians (8.2%). The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 11.2 years. The majority of patients (71.7%) had alopecia of less than 6-months duration and 6% had previous episodes of AA. Females appeared to have more severe involvement. A familial history of AA was observed in 33 patients (8.4%). Associated atopy was found in 26.6% of patients and in 32.3% of their first-degree relatives. Other associations such as vitiligo or Down syndrome were rare. For limited AA, topical and/or intralesional corticosteroid was the first-line treatment used and squaric acid dibutyl ester was the choice of treatment for patients with extensive involvement. The profile of the poor respondents to therapy included young age of onset, past history of AA, Down syndrome, and extensive involvement.

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Alopecia info.

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Hair care info.

Hair loss and alopecia research articles: abstracts and source links.

DHEA has been suggested to provide numerous potential benefits. DHEA (or dehydroepiandrosterone) is converted into androgens (male hormones) or estrogens (female hormones) in the cells.

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