Adipocyte-Myofibroblast Transition as a Possible Pathophysiological Step in Androgenetic Alopecia

The article proposes that the process of adipocyte-myofibroblast transition (AMT) is involved in the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). AMT is the replacement of dermal adipose tissue by fibrotic structures, which can restrict the cycling of hair follicles and cause miniaturization. The authors suggest that androgens can induce AMT, leading to fibrosis in the proximity of involuting hair follicles. The reduction of the dermal adipose layer in this study correlated with an inhibition of hair follicle growth. The authors propose that regulation/modification of dermal white adipose tissue (dWAT) activity could present a new area of interest for the treatment options for AGA.