Differences in Expression of Specific Biomarkers Distinguish Human Beard from Scalp Dermal Papilla Cells

Abstract

Androgen exposure stimulates the growth of beard hair follicles. The follicle dermal papilla appears to be the site of androgen action; however, the molecular mechanisms that regulate this process are not well understood. In an attempt to identify genes that contribute to the androgen-responsive phenotype, we compared gene expression patterns in unstimulated and androgen-treated cultured human dermal papilla cells isolated from beard (androgen-sensitive) and occipital scalp (androgen-insensitive) hair follicles. Through this analysis, we identified three genes that are expressed at significantly higher levels in beard dermal papilla cells. One of these genes, sfrp-2 has been identified as a dermal papilla signature gene in mouse pelage follicles. Two of these genes, mn1 and atp1beta1, have not been studied in the hair follicle. A fourth, fibulin-1d, was slightly upregulated in beard dermal papilla cells. The differences in the expression of these genes in cultured beard and scalp dermal papilla cells reflected similar differences in microdissected dermal papilla isolated from intact beard and scalp follicles. Our findings introduce potentially novel signaling pathways in dermal papilla cells. In addition, this study supports that cultured dermal papilla cells provide a cell-based model system that is reflective of the biology of in vivo hair follicle cells.

SFRP2 augments Wnt/β‐catenin signalling in cultured dermal papilla cells

“…S2). Rutberg et al reported SFRP2 as a signature gene of beard (B) DP cells that distinguishes them from scalp DP cells (9). In agreement with their finding, SFRP2 mRNA levels were significantly higher in beard DP cells and were barely detectable in frontal balding (F) DP cells (Fig.…”

Hair follicle dermal papilla cells at a glance

“…One example, in human skin, is the observation that androgens stimulate hair follicle growth in the face but cause follicle miniaturisation in the scalp. DP cells express androgen receptors and 5a-OH-reductase -a key enzyme in androgen metabolism -and DP from different body sites differ in their responsiveness to androgen (Rutberg et al, 2006).…”

Androgenic Alopecia: Cross-Talk Between Cell Signal Transduction Pathways

“…Follicles from frontal and parietal areas of the human scalp are considered to be androgen-sensitive. There are also two more types of hair follicles: androgen-independent hair follicles, such as eyelashes, and androgen-dependent pigmented terminal hair follicles, such as beard [26,29,30]. Why do hair follicles have different sensitivity to androgens is still open question.…”

“…Besides oligonucleotide microarray experiments, microRNAs differential expression analysis was conducted in balding and nonbalding dermal papilla cells [32]; the expression of sex-determining genes in bald frontal scalp area was examined by real-time RT-PCR [80]. Also, microarray analysis to find differences in expression between beard and scalp dermal papilla cells is available [30].…”

“…Why do hair follicles have different sensitivity to androgens is still open question. There are few studies towards difference between androgen-dependent and androgen-independent hair follicles [8,[30][31][32][33][34][35].…”