Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Targeting Androgenetic Alopecia: How Far Can We Go Beyond Minoxidil and Finasteride?

September 2025 in “ Journal of Medicinal Chemistry ”

Jia Zhi, Mei‐Ling Feng, Xilong Feng, Xiaotian Niu, Wenchao Chen, Xiaoying Jiang, Renren Bai

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway androgenetic alopecia minoxidil finasteride DKK Dvl-CXXC5 Axin GSK-3β hair follicle regulation pathway activators molecular docking analyses structure-activity relationships Rogaine Propecia

From the encyclopedia

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Studysummary This manuscript reviews the potential of targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway for developing new treatments for androgenetic alopecia, providing insights but no clinical results.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The article discusses the potential of targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as a novel approach for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA), beyond the current FDA-approved treatments of minoxidil and finasteride. The authors highlight the increasing prevalence of AGA and the need for more effective therapies. They explore the central role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in regulating the hair follicle cycle and identify key targets such as DKK, Dvl-CXXC5, Axin, and GSK-3β. The paper also examines the structural design and modification of pathway activators, including DKK and GSK-3β inhibitors, using molecular docking analyses to understand structure-activity relationships (SARs). The insights aim to guide future therapeutic development for AGA.

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