TLDR Gene therapy with a vitamin D receptor gene improved hair growth in rats with a type of rickets-related baldness.
The study investigated the use of gene therapy to treat alopecia in rats with type II rickets, a hereditary disease caused by a mutation in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. Six 7-week-old female rats with a VDR gene knockout (Vdr-KO) were treated with an adenoviral vector (AdV) expressing the VDR gene. The treated rats showed significant VDR expression in the skin, enhanced hair growth, and low cyst formation, unlike the control groups. This suggests that gene therapy using a VDR-expressing AdV could be a potential treatment for alopecia associated with type II rickets.
4 citations,
February 2023 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology/The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology” The study found that certain mutations in the vitamin D receptor can cause rickets and potentially affect hair growth.
107 citations,
March 2014 in “BoneKEy Reports” Mutations in the vitamin D receptor cause hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets, leading to poor bone health and requiring high calcium doses for treatment.
37 citations,
April 2011 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry” LEF1 interacts with Vitamin D Receptor, affecting hair follicle regeneration and this could be linked to hair loss conditions.
53 citations,
May 2010 in “Journal of Cellular Physiology” Mice without Vitamin D receptors have hair growth problems because of issues in the hedgehog signaling pathway.
1533 citations,
October 2008 in “Endocrine reviews” Mice without the vitamin D receptor have bone issues and other health problems, suggesting vitamin D is important for preventing various diseases in humans.
October 2023 in “Scientific Reports” Gene therapy helped rats with a specific type of rickets grow hair without severe inflammation.
June 2024 in “Regenerative Therapy” iPSCs show promise for hair regeneration but need more research to improve reliability and effectiveness.
12 citations,
October 2021 in “Cells” Targeting a protein that blocks hair growth with microRNAs could lead to new hair loss treatments, but more research is needed.
236 citations,
July 2001 in “Trends in Molecular Medicine” Future hair loss treatments should aim to extend hair growth, reactivate resting follicles, reverse shrinkage, and possibly create new follicles, with gene therapy showing promise.
1 citations,
January 2016 in “Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society” A child with rickets and hair loss might have a rare type of rickets that doesn't improve much with usual vitamin D and calcium treatment.
