17α-Estradiol Induces Aromatase Activity in Intact Human Anagen Hair Follicles Ex Vivo

August 2002 in “ Experimental Dermatology ”

R. Hoffmann, S Niiyama, A. Huth, Sabine Kissling, Rudolf Happle

17α-estradiol aromatase activity anagen hair follicles androgenetic alopecia dihydrotestosterone DHT estrogens testosterone 17β-estradiol androstendione estrone AGA female pattern hair loss

TLDR 17α-estradiol boosts aromatase activity in female hair follicles, potentially helping with hair loss.

The study investigated the effects of 17α-estradiol on aromatase activity in human anagen hair follicles ex vivo, particularly in the context of treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in women. It was found that 17α-estradiol could reduce dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels while increasing weaker steroids like estrogens. The research demonstrated that female hair follicles expressed significantly more aromatase activity than male follicles, with aromatase primarily located in the epithelial parts of the follicle. The study showed a concentration- and time-dependent increase in aromatase activity in female hair follicles incubated with 17α-estradiol, suggesting that this could enhance the conversion of testosterone to 17β-estradiol and androstendione to estrone. This mechanism might explain the positive effects of estrogen treatment on AGA.

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17α-Estradiol Induces Aromatase Activity in Intact Human Anagen Hair Follicles Ex Vivo

Research cited in this study

research 5-Alpha Reductase Deficiency

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research Different Levels of 5α-Reductase Type I and II, Aromatase, and Androgen Receptor in Hair Follicles of Women and Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

research An Estrogen Receptor Pathway Regulates the Telogen-Anagen Hair Follicle Transition and Influences Epidermal Cell Proliferation

research Local Therapy of Androgenetic Alopecia with 17 Alpha-Estradiol: A Controlled, Randomized Double-Blind Study

research Lokaltherapie der Alopecia androgenetica mit 17α-Östradiol

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