Gene Therapy for Alopecia in Type II Rickets Model Rats Using Vitamin D Receptor-Expressing Adenovirus Vector

April 2023 in “ Research Square (Research Square) ”

Satoko Kise, Ayano Iijima, Chika Nagao, Tadashi Okada, Miyu Nishikawa, Shinichi Ikushiro, Teruyuki Nakanishi, Shigeto Sato, Kaori Yasuda, Toshiyuki Sakaki

gene therapy alopecia type II rickets vitamin D receptor adenovirus vector VDR gene Vdr-KO adenoviral vector hair growth cyst formation hair loss AdV VDR

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.

View this study on researchsquare.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Cited in this study

4 / 4 results

research Functional Analysis of Vitamin D Receptor Using Adenovirus Vector

4 citations , June 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.

research Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor-1 Interacts with the DNA-Binding Domain of the Vitamin D Receptor

37 citations , May 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.

research Disruption of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Contributes to Hair Follicle Cycling Deficiency in VDR Knockout Mice

53 citations , August 2010 in “Journal of Cellular Physiology”

Mice without Vitamin D receptors have hair growth problems because of issues in the hedgehog signaling pathway.

research Vitamin D and Human Health: Lessons from Vitamin D Receptor Null Mice

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.