Molecular basis of androgenetic alopecia: From androgen to paracrine mediators through dermal papilla
January 2011
in “Journal of Dermatological Science”
TLDR Male pattern baldness involves hormones and cell signals affecting hair growth.
This 12-year-old scientific paper explores the molecular basis of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also known as male pattern baldness. The paper discusses the role of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and its interaction with the androgen receptor (AR) in the pathogenesis of AGA. The paper also explores the role of paracrine mediators from dermal papilla cells, such as TGF-B and DKK-1, in the suppression of hair growth and early catagen induction in AGA. The paper concludes that the mechanism of AGA is tightly regulated at each step in the androgen signaling pathway and that more pathogenic mediators will likely be identified in the future, providing new therapeutic targets.
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