Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19(11):3307-3323. doi:10.7150/ijbs.80481 This issue Cite

Research Paper

The AR/miR-221/IGF-1 pathway mediates the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia

Kaitao Li, Yang Sun, Shizhao Liu, Yi Zhou, Qian Qu, Gaofeng Wang, Jin Wang, Ruosi Chen, Zhexiang Fan, Bingcheng Liu, Yuning Li, Xiaoyan Mao, Zhiqi Hu, Yong Miao

Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North Guangzhou AV, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China.
These authors contributed equally.

Citation:
Li K, Sun Y, Liu S, Zhou Y, Qu Q, Wang G, Wang J, Chen R, Fan Z, Liu B, Li Y, Mao X, Hu Z, Miao Y. The AR/miR-221/IGF-1 pathway mediates the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19(11):3307-3323. doi:10.7150/ijbs.80481. https://www.ijbs.com/v19p3307.htm
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Abstract

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Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) affects more than half of the adult population worldwide and is primarily caused by the binding of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to androgen receptors (AR). However, the mechanisms by which AR affects hair follicles remain unclear. In our study, we found that miR-221 significantly suppressed hair growth and the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and dermal sheath cells (DSCs) in AGA patients. Interestingly, miR-221 and AR were mainly co-located in the same part of the hair follicle. Mechanistic analysis revealed that AR directly promoted the transcription of miR-221, which in turn suppressed IGF-1 expression, leading to the inactivation of the MAPK pathway in DPCs and the PI3K/AKT pathway in DSCs. In AGA patients, miR-221 expression was positively correlated with AR expression and negatively correlated with IGF-1 expression. Our findings indicate that miR-221, as a direct target of AR, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AGA, making it a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for treating AGA.

Keywords: androgenetic alopecia, miR-221, androgen receptor, IGF-1, dihydrotestosterone


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APA
Li, K., Sun, Y., Liu, S., Zhou, Y., Qu, Q., Wang, G., Wang, J., Chen, R., Fan, Z., Liu, B., Li, Y., Mao, X., Hu, Z., Miao, Y. (2023). The AR/miR-221/IGF-1 pathway mediates the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 19(11), 3307-3323. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.80481.

ACS
Li, K.; Sun, Y.; Liu, S.; Zhou, Y.; Qu, Q.; Wang, G.; Wang, J.; Chen, R.; Fan, Z.; Liu, B.; Li, Y.; Mao, X.; Hu, Z.; Miao, Y. The AR/miR-221/IGF-1 pathway mediates the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia. Int. J. Biol. Sci. 2023, 19 (11), 3307-3323. DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.80481.

NLM
Li K, Sun Y, Liu S, Zhou Y, Qu Q, Wang G, Wang J, Chen R, Fan Z, Liu B, Li Y, Mao X, Hu Z, Miao Y. The AR/miR-221/IGF-1 pathway mediates the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19(11):3307-3323. doi:10.7150/ijbs.80481. https://www.ijbs.com/v19p3307.htm

CSE
Li K, Sun Y, Liu S, Zhou Y, Qu Q, Wang G, Wang J, Chen R, Fan Z, Liu B, Li Y, Mao X, Hu Z, Miao Y. 2023. The AR/miR-221/IGF-1 pathway mediates the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia. Int J Biol Sci. 19(11):3307-3323.

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