Faculty Opinions Recommendation of Six Novel Susceptibility Loci for Early-Onset Androgenetic Alopecia and Their Unexpected Association with Common Diseases
October 2012
in “
Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature
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TLDR Six new genes linked to early hair loss were found, which also surprisingly connect to Parkinson's disease and lower fertility.
In 2012, Li R et al. conducted the largest genome-wide association (GWA) study of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) at the time, involving a meta-analysis of seven GWA studies with 12,806 European individuals. The study identified six new susceptibility loci for early-onset AGA. The genes nearest to these loci showed unique associations with early-onset AGA, Parkinson's disease, and decreased fertility. Two genes, FOXA2 and HDAC4, were highlighted due to their encoded proteins' ability to suppress androgen receptor activity, reinforcing the importance of androgen signaling in AGA. This study suggested potential shared pathogenic mechanisms between AGA and other medical conditions, including Parkinson's disease and decreased fertility. However, further studies were recommended to reliably establish these associations.
