Efficacy of Asymmetric siRNA Targeting Androgen Receptor for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia
April 2023
in “
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
”
asymmetric siRNA androgen receptor androgenetic alopecia small interfering RNA AR gene cell-penetrating asiRNA cp-asiAR DHT dihydrotestosterone intradermal injection AR mRNA AR protein hair growth hair follicle ex vivo human scalp tissues primary human dermal papilla cells interleukin-6 transforming growth factor-β1 dickkopf-1 siRNA AR AGA hair loss hair regrowth scalp tissues dermal papilla cells
TLDR cp-asiAR may effectively treat hair loss by targeting androgen receptors.
This study investigates the use of asymmetric small interfering RNA (asiRNA) targeting the androgen receptor (AR) for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The research utilized AGA mouse models and ex vivo human scalp tissues to evaluate the efficacy of a cell-penetrating, AR-targeting asiRNA (cp-asiAR) designed to silence the AR gene. The study found that intradermal injection of cp-asiAR effectively reduced AR mRNA and protein levels, promoted hair growth in DHT-induced AGA mouse models, and improved hair follicle characteristics in ex vivo human cultures. Additionally, cp-asiAR downregulated AR expression in primary human dermal papilla cells and mitigated DHT-induced increases in interleukin-6, transforming growth factor-β1, and dickkopf-1 levels without significant toxicity. These results suggest cp-asiAR as a promising therapeutic option for AGA.
