Prostaglandin D2 Uses Components of ROS Signaling to Enhance Testosterone Production in Keratinocytes

The study explored the effect of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) on testosterone production in human keratinocytes, finding that PGD2 increased the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone, a process that was associated with a rise in reactive oxygen species (ROS), as evidenced by the presence of the lipid peroxidation marker 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE). The use of the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) was shown to inhibit the PGD2-induced testosterone increase, indicating the involvement of ROS in this mechanism. These results suggest a link between the PGD2-ROS axis and testosterone metabolism in keratinocytes, which may play a role in the development of androgenic alopecia (AGA), and propose that antioxidants like NAC could potentially enhance AGA treatment. The study did not specify the number of subjects involved and did not provide specific results or conclusions from the ELISA kit and immunofluorescence experiments. The research received institutional support and had no declared conflicts of interest.