Melanocortin Receptor Type 2 (MC2R, ACTH Receptor) Expression in Patients with Alopecia Areata

June 2010 in “ Experimental Dermatology ”

Hongwei Guo, Jun Deng, Xichuan Yang, Zhong Bai‐yu, Zhu Shen, Shaoyan Yang, Liu Bao‐heng, Fei Hao

melanocortin receptor type 2 MC2R adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH alopecia areata hair follicles sebaceous glands eccrine glands dermal fibroblasts epithelial cells ACTH receptor AA

Studysummary This study reported that patients with alopecia areata have reduced expression of the melanocortin receptor MC2R in their scalp tissues compared to normal scalp, indicating potential involvement in the condition's pathophysiology. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study investigated the expression of melanocortin receptor type 2 (MC2R) in patients with alopecia areata (AA) and found that MC2R levels were significantly lower in AA lesions compared to normal scalp tissue. This reduction was particularly notable in the proximal portion of hair follicles, upper differentiating layers of the epidermis, and sebaceous glands. The findings suggested that decreased MC2R expression might be involved in the epithelial pathology of AA and could correlate with the disease's pathogenesis rather than being a consequence of hair follicle cycle phases. The study proposed that an overactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress might trigger AA, but lower MC2R levels could lead to a deficient local HPA axis response, similar to conditions that increase susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. The research highlighted a potential pathological link between HPA axis regulation, ACTH receptor expression, and AA, warranting further investigation into dynamic MC2R levels in the human hair follicle cycle.

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