Cholesterol Homeostasis in Hair Follicle Keratinocytes Is Disrupted by Impaired ABCA5 Activity

June 2023 in “ Biochimica and biophysica acta. Molecular and cell biology of lipids ”

Megan A. Palmer, Irundika H.K. Dias, Eleanor Smart, Yvonne Benatzy, Iain S. Haslam

Studysummary In this study, researchers found that knockdown of ABCA5 in primary human hair follicle keratinocytes disrupted cholesterol homeostasis and transportation, suggesting its potential role in hair growth disorders by affecting intracellular cholesterol compartmentalization and LXR-mediated transcriptional activity.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The study "Cholesterol homeostasis in hair follicle keratinocytes is disrupted by impaired ABCA5 activity" investigates the role of ABCA5, a member of the ABC transporter family, in cholesterol transport and homeostasis in outer root sheath (ORS) keratinocytes of hair follicles. The researchers found that ABCA5 protein localization can be modulated by changes in cellular cholesterol levels, which also altered intracellular co-localization to endo-lysosomes, ER, and mitochondria. Using siRNA-mediated knockdown, ABCA5 was implicated in the maintenance of cholesterol. This study provides deeper insight into the potential roles of ABCA5 in cholesterol transport and homeostasis in ORS keratinocytes, which is important for normal hair follicle morphogenesis, growth, and cycling. Disruption of cholesterol homeostasis may have a profound impact on hair follicle biology, which could explain the link between ABCA5 mutation and hypertrichosis, a condition characterized by excessive hair growth.

View this study on ars.els-cdn.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

21 / 21 results

research Localization and Regulation of Cholesterol Transporters in the Human Hair Follicle: Mapping Changes Across the Hair Cycle

13 citations , January 2021 in “Histochemistry and Cell Biology”

In this study, human hair follicles showed varying expression of cholesterol transport proteins during the hair cycle, suggesting a potential role of cholesterol in hair growth and cycling.

research Cholesterol Homeostasis: Links to Hair Follicle Biology and Hair Disorders

25 citations , July 2019 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This review discusses the role of cholesterol homeostasis in hair follicle biology and its potential connections to various hair disorders, but it reports no new findings.

research Culture of the Human Pilosebaceous Unit, Hair Follicle, and Sebaceous Gland

30 citations , April 2018 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This review discusses the historical development and current challenges in in vitro hair follicle culture, highlighting a need for advanced models using cell lines and tissue engineering, and reports no new results.

research Oxidative Damage Control in a Human Mini-Organ: Nrf2 Activation Protects Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Hair Growth Inhibition

58 citations , October 2016 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that activating Nrf2 in human hair follicles significantly reduced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and protected against hair growth inhibition, suggesting a protective role for Nrf2 against redox insult in this context.

research Pharmacologic Inhibition of JAK-STAT Signaling Promotes Hair Growth

159 citations , October 2015 in “Science Advances”

This study observed that applying JAK-STAT pathway inhibitors to mouse and human skin led to rapid hair growth by inducing the anagen phase of hair follicles.

research Human Hair Follicle Organ Culture: Theory, Application, and Perspectives

130 citations , August 2015 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This review provides a comprehensive guide to serum-free human hair follicle organ culture methods, highlighting research opportunities, standardization efforts, and potential applications without reporting new empirical findings.

research Atherogenic Index of Plasma in Non-Obese Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

13 citations , June 2015 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

In this study, non-obese females with early-onset androgenetic alopecia showed higher total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and atherogenic index, and lower HDL cholesterol compared to controls, suggesting an association with adverse cardiovascular risk factors.

research Is Early Onset Androgenic Alopecia a Marker of Metabolic Syndrome and Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in Young Indian Male Patients?

24 citations , January 2015 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This research observed that among young men with androgenic alopecia, there was a significant association with metabolic syndrome compared to healthy controls, suggesting AGA as a potential early marker for metabolic risk.

research Differential Expression and Functionality of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters in the Human Hair Follicle

25 citations , November 2014 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found various ABC transporters are transcribed in human hair follicles, suggesting their possible role in HF biology and potential for new therapeutic interventions.

research Association of Premature Androgenetic Alopecia and Metabolic Syndrome in a Young Indian Population

16 citations , January 2014 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study found that male Indian patients under 30 with early androgenetic alopecia were more likely to have metabolic syndrome compared to age-matched controls.

research Association Between Androgenetic Alopecia and Coronary Artery Disease in Young Male Patients

20 citations , January 2014 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study found that early onset androgenetic alopecia in young Asian Indian Gujarati men is independently associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease.

Sex Steroid Synthesis in Human Skin In Situ: The Roles of Aromatase and Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein in the Homeostasis of Human Skin

research Sex Steroid Synthesis in Human Skin In Situ: The Roles of Aromatase and Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein in the Homeostasis of Human Skin

46 citations , May 2012 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology”

In this study, higher expression levels of aromatase and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein were correlated with increased estrogen synthesis and fewer hair follicles in human skin, suggesting a link to elastic fiber formation and hair growth.

research The Association of Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome in Early Androgenetic Alopecia

18 citations , December 2010 in “PubMed”

This study found that early androgenic alopecia patients showed increased prevalence of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, suggesting they should be monitored for coronary artery disease over the long term.

research Lipid Levels in Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

15 citations , October 2010 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Women with AGA have higher lipid levels, increasing heart disease risk.

research Androgenetic Alopecia and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Men and Women: A Comparative Study

110 citations , July 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Hair loss linked to higher heart disease risk in both men and women.

research Male Androgenetic Alopecia and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Case-Control Study

23 citations , March 2010 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas”

In this study, early-onset androgenetic alopecia in men was associated with a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and carotid atherosclerosis compared to controls, suggesting cardiovascular screening might be beneficial for this group.

research A Comparative Study of Dyslipidemia in Men and Women with Androgenic Alopecia

37 citations , January 2010 in “Acta dermato-venereologica”

This study found that both men and women with androgenic alopecia had significantly higher triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-C and lower HDL-C levels than controls, suggesting increased dyslipidemia prevalence.

research A Hot New Twist to Hair Biology: The Role of TRPV1 in Human Hair Growth Control

174 citations , April 2005 in “The American journal of pathology (Print)”

This study found that TRPV1 activation in human scalp hair follicles inhibited hair shaft elongation, suppressed proliferation, and induced apoptosis, suggesting TRPV1 as a potential target for managing hair growth and epithelial disorders.

research Human Skin Is a Steroidogenic Tissue: Steroidogenic Enzymes and Cofactors Are Expressed in Epidermis, Normal Sebocytes, and an Immortalized Sebocyte Cell Line (SEB-1)

289 citations , May 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study demonstrates that human skin is capable of steroid hormone synthesis, but its role in androgenic skin disorders like acne and alopecia is yet to be clarified.

research The Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

34 citations , March 1999 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study found significant differences in serum lipoprotein (a) and triglyceride levels between men with androgenetic alopecia and those with normal hair, suggesting a need for dermatologists to monitor lipid profiles in these patients.

research Studies on the Biochemistry and Morphology of Freshly Isolated and Maintained Rat Hair Follicles

40 citations , July 1989 in “Journal of Cell Science”

This study found that while hair follicles can be viably maintained in vitro for 7 days, their morphology suggests a shift to the resting phase, likely due to isolation.