Evaluation of androgen receptor gene as a candidate gene in female androgenetic alopecia

Abstract

Background Genetic polymorphisms of the androgen receptor (AR) gene have been studied in male androgenetic alopecia (AGA); however, little is known about gene polymorphism and female AGA. Aim To evaluate the AR gene as a candidate gene for female AGA.Methods Thirty premenopausal Egyptian female patients with AGA (mean age, 32.3 ± 7 years) and 11 age-and sex-matched controls were included. All subjects underwent laboratory and pelvic ultrasound evaluation to exclude other precipitating cause(s) of hair loss.Scalp biopsy was taken and the AR gene was evaluated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). ResultsAccording to Ludwig's classification, all patients had type II AGA. Statistical analysis showed no statistically significant difference in genotype ( χ 2 = 5.513, P ≥ 0.05) or allele frequency ( χ 2 = 1.312, P ≥ 0.05) between patients and controls. There was also no statistically significant difference between the genotype and allele frequency with disease duration. ConclusionIn contrast with male AGA, no association was found between type II AGA in Egyptian women and the AR gene. Therefore, the genetic study of this gene does not serve as a biomarker for the identification of women with a predisposition to AGA. Study designThis study represents a case-control study. Subjects were selected from those attending the outpatient clinic of

Androgen receptor gene polymorphisms and risk for androgenetic alopecia: a meta-analysis

“…Recently, several genes have been suggested as candidates for AGA. These include 5α‐reductase, oestrogen receptors, Y‐chromosomes, growth factors and the AR genes 28 . In addition, other genes encoding enzymes that act earlier in the androgen‐production pathway, such as the 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and ectodysplasin A2 receptor genes, remain to be investigated 27 …”

Role of genetics and sex steroid hormones in male androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss: An update of what we now know

“…A small study examined the MAGAassociated SNP in exon 1 of AR, but no association between this SNP and FPHL was apparent. 78 In one of the MAGA genome-wide association studies discussed above, mild association between FPHL and the MAGA-associated susceptibility locus at chromosome 20p11 was also present, but with unknown implications. 65 The CAG repeat length polymorphism in exon 1 of AR has been associated with the development of androgen-related skin disorders, such as FPHL, acne and hirsutism, in hyperandrogenaemic women 79 and in another study with post-menopausal hirsutism and FPHL.…”

Hair: What is New in Diagnosis and Management?

“…Also, AR polymorphisms have not been uniformly confirmed and cannot completely explain the mechanism of FPHL. 12 The observed differences between androgen regulation in FPHL and male AGA may lie in the presence of estrogens. Estrogen signaling can modify androgen metabolism at the hair follicle, by unclear mechanisms.…”