Characterization of follicular minoxidil sulfotransferase activity in a cohort of pattern hair loss patients from the Indian Subcontinent.

Several studies have established that sulfotransferase enzyme activity in the outer root sheath of plucked hair follicles predicts response to topical minoxidil in the treatment of pattern hair loss. However, the prevalence of this enzyme activity among Indian patients has not been studied. Additionally, no reports in the literature characterize sulfotransferase activity based on sex, age, duration of hair loss, grade of hair loss, and family history. In this study we utilized a sulfotransferase activity assay first reported by Goren et al. We characterize the follicular sulfotransferase activity of 120 pattern hair loss patients visiting a dermatology outpatient clinic in India. Overall, 40.8% of patients with pattern hair loss had low levels of sulfotransferase. Surprisingly, 49.3% of men had low levels of sulfotransferase compared to 26.6% of women. No correlation was found between sulfotransferase activity and age, duration of hair loss, grade of hair loss, or family history. A sub-analysis of patient reported outcomes (PRO) validated previous findings that sulfotransferase enzyme activity is a predictive marker for minoxidil response in pattern hair loss patients.

Minoxidil in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

The National Institutes of Health (US NIH, 2018) estimates that in the US approximately 50 million men and 30 million women suffer from AGA (also known as pattern hair loss). Minoxidil is the only topical drug for the treatment of both female and male pattern hair loss. In the US, minoxidil is approved over-the-counter (OTC) at a maximum concentration of 5%. In this review, we summarize the findings of the pivotal studies used in support of the drug's approval as well as recent discoveries and novel developments in the use of minoxidil for the treatment of AGA.

Regeneration of hyaline-like cartilage in situ with SOX9 stimulation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Microfracture, a common procedure for treatment of cartilage injury, induces fibrocartilage repair by recruiting bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to the site of cartilage injury. However, fibrocartilage is inferior biomechanically to hyaline cartilage. SRY-type high-mobility group box-9 (SOX9) is a master regulator of chondrogenesis by promoting proliferation and differentiation of MSC into chondrocytes. In this study we aimed to test the therapeutic potential of cell penetrating recombinant SOX9 protein in regeneration of hyaline cartilage in situ at the site of cartilage injury. We generated a recombinant SOX9 protein which was fused with super positively charged green fluorescence protein (GFP) (scSOX9) to facilitate cell penetration. scSOX9 was able to induce chondrogenesis of bone marrow derived MSC in vitro. In a rabbit cartilage injury model, scSOX9 in combination with microfracture significantly improved quality of repaired cartilage as shown by macroscopic appearance. Histological analysis revealed that the reparative tissue induced by microfracture with scSOX9 had features of hyaline cartilage; and collagen type II to type I ratio was similar to that in normal cartilage. This short term in vivo study demonstrated that when administered at the site of microfracture, scSOX9 was able to induce reparative tissue with features of hyaline cartilage.