Insulin-like growth factor-1: roles in androgenetic alopecia

Exp Dermatol. 2014 Mar;23(3):216-8. doi: 10.1111/exd.12339.

Abstract

Of all the cytokines or growth factors that have been postulated to play a role in hair follicle, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is known to be regulated by androgens. However, how IGF-1 is altered in the balding scalp has not yet been investigated. In this study, expressions of IGF-1 and its binding proteins by dermal papilla (DP) cells obtained from balding versus non-balding hair follicles were quantified using growth factor array. DP cells from balding scalp follicles were found to secrete significantly less IGF-1, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-4 (P < 0.05) than their non-balding counterparts. Our data confirmed that the downregulation of IGF-1 may be one of the important mechanisms contributing to male pattern baldness.

Keywords: IGF-1; androgenetic alopecia; hair follicle.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alopecia / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Hair Follicle / cytology
  • Hair Follicle / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4 / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 6 / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Scalp

Substances

  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 6
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I