Androgen Receptor Accelerates Premature Senescence of Human Dermal Papilla Cells in Association with DNA Damage

November 2013 in “ PLOS ONE ”

Yi‐Chien Yang, Hung-Chun Fu, Ching‐Yuan Wu, Kuo-Ting Wei, Ko-En Huang, Hong-Yo Kang

androgen receptor AR signaling human dermal papilla cells DPCs androgenetic alopecia AGA dihydrotestosterone DHT premature senescence p16INK4a DNA damage markers AR dermal papilla cells premature aging p16 DNA damage

TLDR Androgen receptor signaling causes early aging of cells important for hair growth by damaging their DNA.

The study explored the impact of androgen receptor (AR) signaling on the early aging (senescence) of human dermal papilla cells (DPCs), which are essential for hair growth and are involved in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). It was found that DPCs from AGA patients exhibited more signs of premature senescence than those from non-AGA individuals. Androgen exposure, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), was shown to induce premature senescence in DPCs from non-balding scalp areas and the transitional zone of balding scalp, but not in beard follicles. Overexpression of AR in DPCs led to increased premature senescence, higher levels of p16/Nk4a, and DNA damage markers, while reducing AR expression had the opposite effect. The study concluded that androgen/AR signaling promotes premature senescence in DPCs via DNA damage and the p16INK4 axis, pointing to potential targets for AGA treatment. The exact number of participants from whom DPCs were derived was not mentioned.

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