Genetic analysis of 5 α reductase type 2 enzyme in relation to oxidative stress in cases of androgenetic alopecia in a sample of egyptian population

Eman S Kamha,Nagat Sobhy Mohammad,Ossama Hussein Roshdy,Marwa Omar

doi:10.7241/ourd.20134.119

Abstract

Objective: To study the genetic polymorphism of 5-α reductase type II enzyme in relation to oxidative stress in cases of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in a sample of Egyptian population. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with different grades of AGA,and 45 healthy subjects as control group. Laboratory tests included DNA extraction from blood, amplification of the 5-α reductase type II by PCR and V89L mutation analysis by restriction endonuclease enzyme RsaІ, and estimation of the levels of plasma catalase and erythrocyte lysate superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes by colorimetric methods. Results: The studied subjects carrying the homozygote( LL) and the heterozygote (VL) genotypes were of no risk of developing AGA.(OR=0). Regarding the leucine allele, the studied subjects carrying the (L) allele were at about 3.7 higher risk of AGA .(OR=3.692), and the results were statistically significant (p<0.001). There was significant increase in the level of SOD and catalase in patients than in control group(p=0.005),and (p<0.001) respectively,plasma catalase is significantly higher in patients with LLvariant than inVL variant (p=0.020). Asignificant relations was found between the severity of the disease and age and family history (p=0.037), and (0.036) respectively, there was no significant correlation between the level of catalase enzyme and SOD in one hand and the severity of the disease among patients. Conclusions: There is a possible association between AGA and V89L genetic polymorphism of 5-alpha reductase type II enzyme, patients carrying the mutant leucine (L) allele have a risk for developing AGA. Also there is possible association between AGA with oxidative stress.

Highlights

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common type of baldness in both males and females, it is a hereditary thinning of the hair induced by androgen in genetically susceptible individuals that has its onset in late adolescence
The severity of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in male patients was determined according to the Hamilton Norwood classification, 7 (25.9%) patients were of grade III, 2 (7.4%) patients were of grade IV, 6 (22.2%) patients were of grade V and 12 (44.4%) patients were of grade VI
In our work we assumed that the genetic polymorphism of the 5-α reductase type II enzyme, would be in close proximity to the etiologic genetic mutations that cause AGA

Summary

Introduction

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common type of baldness in both males and females, it is a hereditary thinning of the hair induced by androgen in genetically susceptible individuals that has its onset in late adolescence. The 5-α reductase enzyme is responsible for the chemical reaction that converts the hormone testosterone in to the more potent Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone. Cases with androgenic alopecia have higher levels of 5-α reductase which is present predominantly in the scalp,increased sensitivity of hair follicles to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which in turn causes miniaturization of the hair follicles [7,10]. Environmental factors play a role in the development of AGA by causing oxidative stress, which is a disturbance in the normal redox (oxidation–reduction) state of cells that can cause toxic effects that damage all components of the cell [14,15]

Methods

Results

Conclusion