MicroRNA-22-3p Suppresses Hair Regrowth in Androgenetic Alopecia by Targeting Chloride Intracellular Channel 4

This study investigates the role of microRNA-22-3p (miR-22-3p) in androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and its impact on hair regrowth. The research involved 30 male AGA patients and utilized human hair follicle stem cells, clinical specimens, and mouse models. Findings revealed that miR-22-3p is upregulated in balding hair follicles, leading to the downregulation of chloride intracellular channel protein 4 (CLIC4), a target of miR-22-3p. This downregulation impairs hair follicle stem cell proliferation by inhibiting the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway. The study suggests that the miR-22-3p/CLIC4 axis is a novel epigenetic regulator of hair follicle miniaturization and proposes CLIC4-mediated SHH modulation as a potential therapeutic target for AGA treatment.