Hormones and clocks: do they disrupt the locks? Fluctuating estrogen levels during menopausal transition may influence clock genes and trigger chronic telogen effluvium.
Chronic telogen effluvium describes the clinical condition noted mostly in middle-aged women of increased, diffuse scalp hair shedding that is prolonged and often presents with a fluctuating course that may continue for years but does not lead to visible hair thinning. Despite its description almost 20 years ago, the underlying pathologic cause of CTE is yet to be identified. However the culmination of research in the field of hair biology and the burgeoning field of chronobiology may lead to exciting breakthroughs in our understanding of CTE. In this paper the current literature on CTE is reviewed and a hypothesis is put forth that CTE may be triggered by hormonal fluctuations and alterations in circadian control genes.
Departments of Dermatology: The Permanente Medical Group (Vallejo, CA), University of California, San Francisco, Case Western Reserve University. paradi.mirmirani@kp.org.
Paradi
P
Mirmirani
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D000505:Alopecia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D056926:CLOCK Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007039:Hypotrichosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008593:Menopause / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D004967:Estrogens; D056926:CLOCK Proteins