Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion deletion polymorphism and androgenetic alopecia susceptibility among Egyptian patients: A preliminary case-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent condition with a complex etiopathogenesis. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene located on the chromosome 17q23 contains an insertion (I) and deletion (D) polymorphism in the intron 16. This gene polymorphism plays a role in multiple inflammatory disorders. However, there are no studies investigating its association with AGA susceptibility. OBJECTIVES: In this work, we aimed at exploring the association of ACE gene I/D polymorphism in AGA susceptibility in a group of Egyptian patients. METHODS: This study included 100 AGA patients, and 100 apparently healthy controls. The ACE gene I/D polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The DD, ID genotypes, and D allele showed higher frequent distribution among studied AGA patients than controls (p < 0.05 each). Positive family history and ACE gene I/D polymorphism were considered AGA susceptibility predictors in both uni- and multivariable analyses [p < 0.05 each (OR (95% CI)] on applying logistic regression analysis for risk factors prediction. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the possible contribution of the suspected genetic polymorphism as a susceptibility indicator for AGA development in the examined group of patients.

Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein (ZAG): A New Deficiency in Vitiligo Patients.

Zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG), a recently identified adipokine, is a multidisciplinary protein, which is secreted in various body fluids. The ZAG plays roles in lipolysis, regulation of metabolism, cell proliferation and differentiation, regulation of melanin synthesis, cell adhesion, and immunoregulation. The aim of this study is to estimate serum and tissue levels of ZAG in patients with vitiligo. The study included 30 vitiligo patients and 30 healthy controls. Lesional skin biopsy was performed, and blood sample was retrieved to determine the level of ZAG in blood using ELISA kit. In this study, the mean level of ZAG was found to be significantly lower in the vitiligo patients' tissue in comparison with the healthy control subjects' tissue ( p=0.001); the level of ZAG was also lower in vitiligo patients' serum in comparison with the healthy control subjects' serum ( p=0.001). A highly significant correlation was observed between the duration of the disease and the level of ZAG in the tissue of patients (r =0.9; p=0.001). Also a highly significant positive correlation was observed between the age of patients and the level of ZAG in the tissue (r =0.5; p=0.006). Diminishing of ZAG in serum and tissue of vitiligo patients is another important player sharing in the complex pathogenesis of vitiligo.