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

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.