IGFBP-rP1 Is a Potential Therapeutic Target in Androgenic Alopecia

The research paper discusses the role of Insulin Growth Factor Binding Protein-related Protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) in androgenic alopecia (AGA), a common type of hair loss. The study found that IGFBP-rP1 levels were lower in the serum and scalp hair follicles of individuals with AGA compared to healthy controls. IGFBP-rP1 was also found to reverse the inhibitory effects of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the migration of human outer root sheath cells in vitro, suggesting it has no cytotoxicity to these cells. In a DHT-induced AGA mouse model, subcutaneous injection of IGFBP-rP1 delayed the onset of the catagen (hair shedding) phase and prolonged the anagen (hair growth) phase. These findings suggest that IGFBP-rP1 is involved in hair cycle transition and could potentially be a therapeutic target for AGA.