Insights into male androgenetic alopecia using comparative transcriptome profiling: hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathways.

We characterized key transcriptome changes in male AGA HFs, and found that HIF-1 pathway-related genes (EGLN1, EGLN3) and Wnt pathway inhibitors (SERPINF1, SFRP2) may play important roles in AGA. What is already known about this topic? Multiple differentially expressed genes and signalling pathways have been found between hair follicles (HFs) in the balding area (frontal and vertex regions) and nonbalding area (occipital region) of individuals with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). A whole-transcriptome atlas of the vertex and occipital region is lacking. What does this study add? We identified a number of differentially expressed genes and pathways between balding vertex and nonbalding occipital AGA HFs by using whole-transcriptome analyses. We identified pathways not previously reported in AGA, such as the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 signalling pathway. We verified that HIF-1 pathway-related genes (EGLN1, EGLN3) and Wnt pathway inhibitors (PEDF, SFRP2) played important roles in dermal papilla cell activity, hair growth and the hair cycle. What is the translational message? The EGLN1, EGLN3, SERPINF1 and SFRP2 genes may be potentially utilized as therapeutic targets for AGA.