Expression of sex-determining genes in the scalp of men with androgenetic alopecia.
BACKGROUND
The regulation of the cutaneous steroidogenesis in patients with androgenetic alopecia remains largely unclear.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to quantify the expression of the sex-determining genes in different scalp areas.


METHODS
Paired scalp specimens from frontal and occipital scalp areas of 10 patients were examined by real-time RT-PCR for mRNA expression and of 40 patients (mean age 34.9 years, range 22-58) by Western blotting for protein analysis.


RESULTS
The SOX-9 mRNA was most abundant in the skin, while SF-1 mRNA was sparsely detected. The protein levels of DAX-1, SRY and WT-1 were significantly higher in the bald scalp (p=0.003, 0.004 and 0.03, respectively). Only the SRY expression showed a positive correlation with the baldness severity in Norwood-Hamilton classification (p=0.024). There was no association between patient's age and the protein levels. Immunostaining of SOX-9 was detected in the outer root sheath keratinocytes of hair follicles but not in the dermal papillae.


CONCLUSIONS
Further study on a larger population, including normal subjects and female patients, is needed to confirm the pathogenic role of sex-determining genes in androgenetic alopecia.
Chen
WenChieh
W
Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC. wchen@cgmh.org.tw
Yang
Chao-Chun
CC
Tsai
Ren-Yeu
RY
Liao
Chen-Yu
CY
Yen
Yu-Ta
YT
Hung
Chiu-Ling
CL
Chen
Ko-Fan
KF
Tsai
Shaw-Jenq
SJ
Zouboulis
Christos C
CC
D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000235:genetics*; D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D024282:Genes, sry / Q000235:genetics*; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D012535:Scalp / Q000737:chemistry*
D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; C539965:NR0B1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C490906:SOX1 protein, human; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors