Dihydrotestosterone-Inducible Dickkopf 1 from Balding Dermal Papilla Cells Causes Apoptosis in Follicular Keratinocytes

In the 2008 study, researchers discovered that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) causes an increase in dickkopf 1 (DKK-1) in dermal papilla cells from balding scalps, which in turn leads to apoptosis in follicular keratinocytes. They observed that DKK-1 mRNA levels rose within 3-6 hours of DHT treatment and that DKK-1 protein was secreted from these cells. The inhibition of outer root sheath keratinocyte growth by DHT was significantly reduced by a neutralizing antibody against DKK-1, and this antibody also reversed DHT-induced cell death in cultured hair follicles. Immunoblotting showed higher levels of DKK-1 in bald scalp compared to non-balding scalp in patients with androgenetic alopecia. These results suggest that DKK-1 is a significant factor in DHT-related hair loss, although the study did not mention the number of participants or samples, indicating a need for further research to confirm these findings.