Are you going bald? Block the prostaglandin D2 receptor!
A hormone that causes premature hair loss has been identified
Prostaglandins are hormone–like substances that are synthesized in almost all tissues of the body and are able, among other effects, to modulate the action of a number of hormones on cells. In addition to the many studied functions of prostaglandins, one of them has another property.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, working under the guidance of Professor George Cotsarelis, identified elevated levels of prostaglandin D2 in the scalp cells of men with androgenic allopecia. This discovery may form the basis for the development of new drugs for the treatment of the most common form of baldness among men.
Experiments on animal models, as well as with the participation of humans, have shown that both prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and its derivative (15-dPGJ2) inhibit hair growth. This occurs through the activation of the GPR44 receptor, which is a promising target for the treatment of androgenic alopecia in men and women.
Male pattern baldness develops in 8 out of 10 men under the age of 70; in some cases, hair loss begins at a very early age. At the same time, the hair follicles decrease in size and begin to form microscopic hairs with an abnormally short life span.
In search of the biological causes of such baldness, the researchers analyzed the features of bald and hair-covered areas of the scalp of men with androgenic alopecia, after which they confirmed the results obtained in experiments on mice. They found that in the described condition, the concentration of prostaglandin D2 in bald areas of the scalp is about 3 times higher than in areas that have retained some amount of hair. In laboratory conditions, the addition of prostaglandin D2 to the culture of hair follicles significantly reduced the length of the hair they formed, while the addition of its derivative 15-dPGJ2 completely stopped their growth.
According to Professor Kotsarelis, the results were very unexpected, since it is known that another protein from the prostaglandin family, F2alpha) is able to enhance hair growth.
During the study, scientists analyzed the content of prostaglandin D2 in the scalp of men, however, they believe that this mechanism also underlies the female form of androgenic allopecia. They hope in the future to test the possibility of using local therapy aimed at blocking the GPR44 receptor, which can help representatives of both sexes suffering from premature hair loss.
Article by Luis A. Garza et al. Prostaglandin D2 Inhibits Hair Growth and Is Elevated in Bald Scalp of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Medicalexpress:
Research identifies inhibitor causing male pattern baldness and target for hair-loss treatments.
22.03.2012