Evidence for a Functional Interaction of WNT10A and EBF1 in Male-Pattern Baldness

September 2021 in “ PLoS ONE ”

Lara M. Hochfeld, Marta Bertolini, David Broadley, Natalia V. Botchkareva, Regina C. Betz, Susanne Schoch, Markus M. Nöthen, Stefanie Heilmann‐Heimbach

WNT10A EBF1 male-pattern baldness MPB 2q35 risk locus anagen phase hair shaft formation anagen shortening

Studysummary In this study, researchers found that interaction between transcription factor EBF1 and gene WNT10A, influenced by a genetic variant, may play a role in hair shaft formation and anagen shortening in male pattern baldness. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This study investigated the interaction between WNT10A and EBF1 in male-pattern baldness (MPB), focusing on the regulatory architecture at the 2q35 risk locus. Researchers found that EBF1 activates the WNT10A promoter, and this interaction is influenced by the MPB risk allele at 2q35. Experiments, including luciferase reporter assays and immunofluorescence co-stainings, indicated that the EBF1/WNT10A interaction is crucial for hair shaft formation during the anagen phase. The study suggested that a reduction in WNT10A expression due to decreased promoter activation by EBF1, associated with the MPB-risk allele, leads to anagen shortening, a common feature in MPB-affected hair follicles. This was the first study to demonstrate a functional interaction between two MPB risk loci, providing insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms involved.

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