title: L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate represses the dihydrotestosterone-induced dickkopf-1 expression in human balding dermal papilla cells.
abstract: Recent studies suggested that dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-driven alteration in the autocrine and paracrine factors may be a key to androgen-potentiated balding. Also, we recently claimed that DHT-inducible dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is one of the key factors involved in the androgen-potentiated balding. Here, we investigated whether L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (Asc 2-P), a derivative of L-ascorbic acid, could attenuate DHT-induced DKK-1 expression in dermal papilla cells (DPCs) from balding scalp. We observed that DHT-induced DKK-1 mRNA expression was attenuated in the presence of Asc 2-P as examined by RT-PCR analysis. In addition, we found that DHT-induced activation of luciferase reporter activity was significantly repressed when Asc 2-P was added together with DHT. Moreover, Asc 2-P repressed DHT-induced DKK-1 protein expression as examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Although there will be many hurdles to apply our finding to actual remedies, these results suggest that it would be worthy to evaluate Asc 2-P or its derivatives for the treatment and prevention of androgen-driven balding.
authors.forename: Mi Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kwack
authors.forename: Moon Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Kwan
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C501126:DKK1 protein, human; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; C011669:ascorbate-2-phosphate; D001205:Ascorbic Acid