A Prostaglandin D-Synthase-Positive Mast Cell Gradient Characterizes Scalp Patterning

The study from 2014 examined the distribution of prostaglandin D-synthase-positive mast cells across the scalps of 11 cadavers to determine their role in androgenetic alopecia. Researchers found a significant increase in these cells at the vertex of the scalp compared to the sides, a pattern consistent with common hair loss in androgenetic alopecia. This pattern was observed in both genders and in scalps with and without hair loss. The findings suggest that the spatial distribution of mast cells may be an inherent characteristic of the scalp, potentially useful for identifying individuals at risk for pattern hair loss and for developing targeted treatments. The study also proposes that this pattern may have an evolutionary basis related to thermoregulation, but further research is needed to understand the active cellular pathology and to establish predictive biomarkers for pattern hair loss.