TLDR The gene LRRC15 is more active in balding areas of the scalp compared to non-balding areas.
Three years ago, a study was conducted to understand the differences between the frontal and occipital hair follicles, particularly in the dermal papilla (DP) cells of patients with Androgenetic alopecia (AGA). DPs were surgically isolated from matched frontal balding and occipital non-balding areas of AGA patients. The DP cells were then cultured in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional environments. The study found that the gene leucine-rich repeat containing 15 (LRRC15) was significantly overexpressed in the DP cells from balding areas compared to those from non-balding areas. This differential expression of LRRC15 between bald and normal DPs was further confirmed by immunohistochemical staining.
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