title: Similar response patterns to topical minoxidil foam 5% in frontal and vertex scalp of men with androgenetic alopecia: a microarray analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are regional variations in the scalp hair miniaturization seen in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Use of topical minoxidil can lead to reversal of miniaturization in the vertex scalp. However, its effects on other scalp regions have been less well studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether scalp biopsies from men with AGA show variable gene expression before and after 8 weeks of treatment with minoxidil topical foam 5% (MTF) vs. placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  A placebo-controlled double-blinded prospective pilot study of MTF vs. placebo was conducted in 16 healthy men aged 18-49 years with Hamilton-Norwood type IV-V thinning. The subjects were asked to apply the treatment (active drug or placebo) to the scalp twice daily for 8 weeks. Stereotactic scalp photographs were taken at the baseline and final visits, to monitor global hair growth. Scalp biopsies were taken at the leading edge of hair loss from the frontal and vertex scalp before and after treatment with MTF and placebo, and microarray analysis was performed using the Affymetrix GeneChip HG U133 Plus 2.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Global stereotactic photographs showed that MTF induced hair growth in both the frontal and vertex scalp of patients with AGA. Regional differences in gene expression profiles were observed before treatment. However, MTF treatment induced the expression of hair keratin-associated genes and decreased the expression of epidermal differentiation complex and inflammatory genes in both scalp regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that MTF is effective in the treatment of both the frontal and vertex scalp of patients with AGA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The Permanente Medical Group, Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center, 975 Sereno Drive, Vallejo, CA, 94589, U.S.A.|Case Western Reserve University, Department of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Building BRB-533, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH, 44106, U.S.A.|University of California, Department of Dermatology, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mirmirani
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Department of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Building BRB-533, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH, 44106, U.S.A.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Consolo
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Department of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Building BRB-533, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH, 44106, U.S.A.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oyetakin-White
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Department of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Building BRB-533, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH, 44106, U.S.A.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Department of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Building BRB-533, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH, 44106, U.S.A.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leahy
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Department of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Building BRB-533, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH, 44106, U.S.A.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karnik
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D065187:Controlled Before-After Studies; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012535:Scalp / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D008914:Minoxidil