title: Expression of sex-determining genes in the scalp of men with androgenetic alopecia.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC. wchen@cgmh.org.tw
authors: WenChieh
authors: W
authors: Chen
authors: Chao-Chun
authors: CC
authors: Yang
authors: Ren-Yeu
authors: RY
authors: Tsai
authors: Chen-Yu
authors: CY
authors: Liao
authors: Yu-Ta
authors: YT
authors: Yen
authors: Chiu-Ling
authors: CL
authors: Hung
authors: Ko-Fan
authors: KF
authors: Chen
authors: Shaw-Jenq
authors: SJ
authors: Tsai
authors: Christos C
authors: CC
authors: Zouboulis
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: 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