Susceptibility variants on chromosome 7p21.1 suggest HDAC9 as a new candidate gene for male-pattern baldness
November 2011
in “British Journal of Dermatology”
TLDR A gene called HDAC9 might be a new factor in male-pattern baldness.
The study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and identified a new susceptibility locus for male-pattern baldness (AGA) on chromosome 7p21.1, implicating the histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) gene as a candidate gene. The research involved 581 male cases with severe AGA and 617 controls in a German sample, with further replication in an Australian sample of 461 cases and 151 controls. The most significant association was found with SNPs rs756853 and rs2249817 in the HDAC9 gene, with the combined analysis of German and Australian samples showing a strong association (P = 9.09 × 10^-8). HDAC9 was expressed in relevant tissues, including hair follicles, and pathway analyses suggested a functional role for HDAC9 in AGA through interaction with the AR gene. The study concluded that HDAC9 is a third AGA susceptibility gene, but further research is needed to understand its role in hair loss.
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