Differences in Expression of Specific Biomarkers Distinguish Human Beard from Scalp Dermal Papilla Cells

The study from 2006 explored the molecular distinctions between human beard and scalp dermal papilla cells (DPC), focusing on gene expression. It found that certain genes, such as sFRP2, ATP1ß1, and fibulin-1, were differentially expressed in beard DPC compared to scalp DPC. sFRP2 was significantly higher in beard DPC, suggesting a role in beard hair follicle characteristics. ATP1ß1 correlated with a DPC marker, indicating its potential as a biomarker, particularly in beard hair. The study also confirmed that these gene expression patterns in cultured DPC were reflective of those in intact follicles, validating the use of cultured DPC for research. The findings imply that these genes may influence the development of beard follicle traits. The study included DPC cultures from male and female subjects, specifically focusing on male beard and matched scalp follicles from 25-40-year-old Caucasian men. However, the number of subjects was not specified, which is crucial for evaluating the study's strength. The document is 17 years old, and the results could help understand the molecular basis for different hair growth patterns between beard and scalp hair.