A prostaglandin D-synthase-positive mast cell gradient characterizes scalp patterning.
BACKGROUND
Pattern (androgenetic) alopecia is commonly encountered in scalp biopsies obtained for non-scarring hair loss. Prostaglandin D-synthase is known to be elevated in bald vs. non-alopetic scalp of patients with androgenetic alopecia. We hypothesized that this difference in pattern of prostaglandin D-synthase expression may constitute a developmental pattern inherent to normal as well as alopecic scalp skin, thus defining a 'field' vulnerable to acquired hair loss.


METHODS
We immunohistochemically mapped prostaglandin D-synthase expression from supra-auricular to vertex scalp skin of 11 cadavers.


RESULTS
We found significantly more dermal mast cells immunoreactive for prostaglandin D-synthase in the vertex compared to the lateral aspects of the scalp, with a decrement that spatially approximated the pattern of androgenetic alopecia. This difference was present in both balding and non-balding scalps and was independent of gender. Dual labeling established dermal cells expressing prostaglandin D-synthase as mast cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that scalp is spatially programmed via mast cell prostaglandin D-synthase distribution in a manner reminiscent of the pattern seen in androgenetic alopecia.
Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Allison R
AR
Larson
Qian
Q
Zhan
Elisha
E
Johnson
Ana Carolina
AC
Fragoso
Marilyn
M
Wan
George F
GF
Murphy
D000505:Alopecia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D012535:Scalp / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D054834:Lipocalins; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C022466:prostaglandin R2 D-isomerase
alopecia; androgenetic; mast cell; patterning; prostaglandin