Male Androgenetic Alopecia Is Due to Hair Follicle Stem Cell Inactivation

April 2011 in “ Expert Review of Dermatology ”

Longmei Zhao, Basil M. Hantash

androgenetic alopecia hair follicle stem cell inactivation hair germ cells ß-catenin FGF BMP signaling hair follicle cycling bulge stem cells DP HG activation AGA hair loss hair follicle stem cells fibroblast growth factor bone morphogenetic protein

TLDR Male hair loss is caused by inactive hair follicle stem cells.

This 12-year-old scientific paper concludes that male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is caused by hair follicle stem cell inactivation. The study suggests that the depletion of active hair germ cells, rather than reduced numbers of stem cells in follicles, is responsible for AGA. The article highlights three signaling pathways that participate in hair follicle stem cell activation to drive hair follicle cycling. The study suggests that stabilizing ß-catenin expression in bulge stem cells and stimulating FGF and/or inhibiting BMP signaling in the DP may allow for HG activation and the halting of hair loss in patients suffering from AGA.

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Research cited in this study

10 / 10 results

Bald Scalp in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Retains Hair Follicle Stem Cells but Lacks CD200-Rich and CD34-Positive Hair Follicle Progenitor Cells

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research Review of Hair Follicle Dermal Cells

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research Psychological Effect, Pathophysiology, and Management of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

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research Defining the Impact of Beta-Catenin/Tcf Transactivation on Epithelial Stem Cells

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β-catenin is essential for stem cell activation and proliferation in hair follicles.

research Identification of Androgen-Inducible TGF-β1 Derived from Dermal Papilla Cells as a Key Mediator in Androgenetic Alopecia

78 citations, June 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

TGF-β1 from dermal papilla cells suppresses hair growth, and targeting it may help treat androgenetic alopecia.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: Pathogenesis and Potential for Therapy

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Hair loss needs more research for better treatments.

Androgen-Inducible TGF-β1 from Balding Dermal Papilla Cells Inhibits Epithelial Cell Growth: A Clue to Understanding Paradoxical Effects of Androgen on Human Hair Growth

research Androgen-Inducible TGF-β1 from Balding Dermal Papilla Cells Inhibits Epithelial Cell Growth: A Clue to Understanding Paradoxical Effects of Androgen on Human Hair Growth

190 citations, October 2002 in “The FASEB journal”

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research Noggin Is Required for Induction of the Hair Follicle Growth Phase in Postnatal Skin

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Noggin is necessary to start the hair growth phase in skin after birth.

research The Genetics of Androgenetic Alopecia

50 citations, March 2001 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

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research Fortnightly Review: Male Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia

179 citations, September 1998 in “BMJ”

Hair loss in men is common, treatable, but not curable.

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