ISSN:
1365-2133
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
In order to determine whether adrenal and gonadal weak androgens are utilized to form active androgens in human hair, we studied the expression of mRNA for androgen receptor (AR), 5α-reductase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) in cultured dermal papilla cells (DPCs) from various body sites. AR mRNA was expressed in beard (Be) and axillary hair (Ax) DPCs from both sexes, but only at a low level in DPCs from occipital scalp hair (OS). Type I 5α-reductase mRNA was expressed by all DPCs. Type II 5α-reductase mRNA was identified in beard DPCs, but was absent from OS and Ax DPCs. Type II 17β-HSD mRNA was strongly expressed in outer root sheath cells (ORSCs), while DPCs except for male Ax expressed no type II 17β-HSD mRNA. In contrast, type III 17β-HSD mRNA was strongly expressed in Be DPCs and Ax DPCs from both sexes; ORSCs showed a low level of expression. Expression of type III 17β-HSD mRNA was not regulated by androgen in DPCs. These results suggest that the sensitivity of hairs to androgen is partially controlled by the site-specific expression of AR, 5α-reductase and 17β-HSD in DPCs.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.03156.x
