Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels in alopecia areata, female pattern hair loss, and male androgenetic alopecia in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that low vitamin D levels may affect the development of hair loss. AIMS: Our aim was to evaluate the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] status in Chinese patients with alopecia areata (AA), female pattern hair loss (FPHL), and male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA) compared with healthy individuals. METHODS: We performed a case-control study including 443 AA patients, 657 FPHL patients, 777 MAGA patients, and 2070 normal controls (1064 male and 1006 female healthy individuals) from 2015 to 2017 to analyze the correlation of serum 25(OH)D levels and hair loss in a Chinese population. RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D levels stratified by age, sex, and season were compared between patients and healthy individuals. AA patients' serum 25(OH)D levels were statistically lower than that of controls (P < .0001, α = .05). Serum 25(OH)D levels of FPHL patients (P < .0001, α = .05) and MAGA patients (P = .0005, α = .05) were also significantly lower than counterpart control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest an association between serum 25(OH)D levels and alopecia areata, female pattern hair loss, or male androgenetic alopecia in a Chinese population.

Identification of blood microRNA alterations in patients with severe active alopecia areata.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common inflammatory disease characterized by cellular infiltration of T cells targeting the anagen-stage hair follicle. Lack of efficacious treatment for AA may be due to little knowledge about its exact cellular mechanism. Studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. However, little is known about the role of miRNAs in AA. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to explore the blood miRNAs alterations in patients with severe active AA. METHODS: We constructed a bipartite miRNA-messenger RNA (mRNA) regulatory network by the validated miRNA-mRNA relationships. Subsequently, the miRNA-miRNA synergistic network was formed in consideration of the Gene Ontology function enrichment of coregulated target genes. Lastly, the functional network was identified by the ingenuity pathway analysis. RESULTS: By using an Agilent microarray that covers 2549 human miRNAs, we identified 36 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs in severe active AA patients. miRNA target gene prediction and functional annotation analysis showed significant enrichment in several pathways including the ribosome, cancer, cell cycle, insulin signaling, transforming growth factor-ßsignaling, and p53 signaling pathways. Analysis of the three kinds of network showed that miR-185-5p, miR-125b-5p, and miR-186-5p might play important and synergistic roles in the active phase of AA. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, several miRNAs were selected for the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction validation. Among the miRNAs, miR-210 and miR-1246 had high prediction with high accuracy. CONCLUSION: Blood dysregulated miRNAs are potentially associated with the severe active AA. These miRNAs could function synergistically and might be promising targets for the development of novel treatments for AA in the future.

New Interleukins in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Patients: The Possible Roles of Interleukin-33 to Interleukin-38 in Disease Activities and Bone Erosions.

OBJECTIVES: New interleukins (ILs), especially members of IL-1 and IL-12 families, have recently been reported to be involved in the development and regulation of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In this study, we aimed to explore the impact of these new ILs in psoriasis (Ps) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: Forty PsA patients, 20 Ps patients, and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Blood samples were obtained for detecting the levels of ILs, IL-12/23p40, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The severity of skin lesions was assessed by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Arthritis activities of PsA patients were assessed by the PsA Joint Activity Index. For PsA patients, circulating osteoclastogenesis-related cytokines (osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand) and numbers of osteoclast precursors were evaluated. Radiographic features of affected joints in these patients were scored for erosion, joint-space narrowing, osteolysis, and new bone formation. Correlations among levels of these ILs, Ps, and PsA disease activities and bone erosions were studied. RESULTS: Ps and PsA patients had higher serum levels of TNF-α, IL-12/23p40, and IL-33. Serum levels of IL-34 and IL-35 were higher in PsA patients than in Ps patients and HCs. Patients with pustular Ps had higher serum levels of IL-36α and IL-38 than patients with Ps vulgaris or HCs. Increased serum levels of IL-36α were positively correlated with PASI. CONCLUSION: Certain ILs were elevated in the circulation of patients with Ps and PsA, which might contribute to the pathogenesis of skin lesions and arthritis.

Polymorphic CAG Repeat Numbers in the Androgen Receptor Gene of Female Pattern Hair Loss in a Han Chinese Population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of CAG repeat numbers in the androgen receptor (AR) gene with female pattern hair loss (FPHL) in a Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 200 Han Chinese patients with FPHL (142 Ludwig II and 58 Ludwig III cases) and 200 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The polymorphism of CAG repeat numbers was analyzed by the fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism technique. RESULTS: The CAG biallelic mean length was 23.73 ± 2.04 repeats in Han Chinese FPHL patients and 23.90 ± 2.13 repeats in healthy controls, without any significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.481). In addition, neither the shorter nor the longer CAG repeat numbers were significantly different between FPHL and control subjects (p = 0.726, p = 0.383). CONCLUSION: The polymorphism of CAG repeat numbers of the AR gene may not be the genetic marker of FPHL in a Chinese population.

Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the CYP19A1 Gene with Female Pattern Hair Loss in a Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the CYP19A1 gene encoding aromatase may affect the development of female pattern hair loss (FPHL). OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the association of CYP19A1 gene SNPs with FPHL in a Chinese population. METHODS: Two hundred Chinese Han patients with FPHL and 200 controls were enrolled into our study. SNaPshot technology was used to detect CYP19A1 gene candidate SNPs. RESULTS: The allele frequencies and distributions of rs6493497 and rs7176005 were significantly different between FPHL and control subjects (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 vs. p < 0.001 and p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The rs6493497 and rs7176005 SNPs of the CYP19A1 gene may be genetic markers that influence the risk of FPHL in this Chinese population.

Combined treatment with oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: a randomized and comparative study in Chinese patients.

Finasteride at 1 mg/day and 5% topical minoxidil are effective in male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA). However, studies describing their effects in Chinese individuals are scarce. 450 Chinese MAGA patients were randomly assigned to receive finasteride (n = 160), minoxidil (n = 130) and combined medication (n = 160) for 12 months. The patients returned to the clinic every 3 months for efficacy evaluation. And efficacy was evaluated in 428 men at treatment end, including 154, 122, and 152 in the finasteride, 5% minoxidil, and combination groups, respectively. All groups showed similar baseline characteristics, including age at enrollment, and duration and severity of alopecia (p > 0.05). At 12 months, 80.5, 59, and 94.1% men treated with finasteride, 5% minoxidil and the combination therapy showed improvement, respectively. Adverse reactions were rare (finasteride, 1.8%; minoxidil, 6.1%), and disappeared right after drug withdrawal. In conclusion, finasteride is superior to 5% minoxidil, while the combined medication showed the best efficacy.