Does prostaglandin D₂ hold the cure to male pattern baldness?

Abstract

Lipids in the skin are the most diverse in the entire human body. Their bioactivity in health and disease is underexplored. Prostaglandin D2 has recently been identified as a factor which is elevated in the bald scalp of men with androgenetic alopecia and has the capacity to decrease hair lengthening. An enzyme which synthesizes it, prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS or lipocalin-PGDS) is hormone responsive in multiple other organs. PGD2 has two known receptors, GPR44 and PTGDR. GPR44 was found to be necessary for the decrease in hair growth by PGD2. This creates an exciting opportunity to perhaps create novel treatments for androgenetic alopecia which inhibit the activity of PTGDS, PGD2 or GPR44. This review discusses the current knowledge surrounding PGD2 and future steps needed to translate these findings into novel therapies for patients with androgenetic alopecia.

Topical Diclofenac 3% Gel for Actinic Keratosis May Induce Terminal Hair in Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Report of Three Cases

“…Frequently, as it occurs in other organs, different PGs have opposing biological effects. In the case of the hair follicle, PGD 2 inhibits hair growth, whereas PGE 2 and PGF 2 α enhance it (4,6). A recent study found that PGD 2 levels significantly increased in bald scalp compared with haired scalp of patients with AGA (7).…”

“…Minoxidil, a reference treatment to stimulate hair regrowth, increases PGE 2 . Bimatoprost and latanoprost, PGF 2 α analogs, are recently used successfully to increase the length of eyelashes (6,8).…”

Addressing Androgenetic Alopecia-A Complex Disorder-with a Multilateral Treatment Strategy

“…14 Amongst the two receptors of PGD2, GPR44 and PTGDR, 16 the former expresses predominantly in hair follicles and upon association with the ligand, may trigger follicle miniaturization by interfering stem cell maturation and thwarting development of terminal hair from vellus hair. 16 Overall based on currently available scientific information, it is evident that an array of different factors-dependent or independent, physiological or external-play role in progression of AGA and hence, the exact pathogenetic mechanism underling AGA is complex and poorly understood.…”

“…16 Overall based on currently available scientific information, it is evident that an array of different factors-dependent or independent, physiological or external-play role in progression of AGA and hence, the exact pathogenetic mechanism underling AGA is complex and poorly understood. Moreover, as AGA results from influence of one or more underlining factors and the individual contributions in overall progression of AGA of these factors varies person-to-person, it sounds scientifically prudent to address the issue with a treatment that targets multiple underlining factors/pathways.…”

Hair growth promoting effects of emodin in telogenic C57BL/6 mice

“…Because DHT shortens the growth phase of the follicles and size of the hair follicles, it is considered to be a potent agent at triggering hair growth and/or hair loss [7,8,21]. Recent studies have reported that prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) was abnormally more abundant in a bald scalp than a haired scalp, especially for patients with androgenetic alopecia, and that it had the capacity to decrease hair lengthening [5,11].…”