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New hereditary hair loss gene discovered

Scientists at Bonn and Düsseldorf Universities investigated more than 500,000 positions in the human genome and found a gene variant which occurs clearly more repeatedly in bald men than in control individuals. This means they have found a novel hair loss gene, according to their transcription in Nature Genetics.
In 2005, these scientists had earlier characterized the first hair-loss gene inherited through the maternal line, which explained why hair-loss in men once more reflects that of their maternal grandfathers. This newly discovered gene, on the other hand, may now assess for the connection in cranial hair growth between father and son.

The researchers had concentrated their intentness on the genomes of just under 300 men suffering from considerable hair loss, investigating for this project over 500,000 alternating sites in the genomes of their test subjects. Two positions many times displayed a definite parallelism with baldness in these men – a positive display that the genes located at those points were involved in hair loss.

“In one of these well marked regions lies the gene for the androgen receptor”, Dr. Axel Hillmer of the Life&Brain Forschungszentrum (research centre) in Bonn states. “We had already learnt from an earlier study that this receptor was linked to hair loss. However, the other region was new to us”.

This is only the second region of the genome that can definitely be correlative with early hair loss. “We are now trying to discover the role played by this genomic region in hair growth”, says Dr. Felix Brockschmidt of Bonn University. “Only then will we know whether we on the right track for new forms of therapy for male hair loss”.

The model was conducted by the research teams headed by Professor Dr. Markus Nöthen (Bonn University´s Institute of Human Genetics and Life & Brain-Center) and Privatdozent Dr. Roland Kruse (Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Düsseldorf). Over a term of years, the scientists had collected blood samples from affected males all over Germany. As ramification of their investigation, they have been able to attest their findings with supplemental sufferers in Australia. The Australian research group is headed by Nicholas Martin (Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane).

The results expose that more than one gene is entangled in the spread of male hair-loss. These results also import interesting light on the heredity of baldness in that hitherto the only known risk gene for the androgen receptor lay on the X-chromosome, and was thus inherited from the mother – which accounts for the fact that in the case of hair-loss men often take after their maternal grandfathers. Yet, the newly discovered gene lies on chromosome 20, and can be hereditary from both the mother and the father.

“This helps to provide an explanation for the similarity between father and son”, declares Professor Nöthen.

The scientists conjecture that other genes are also involved in early hair-loss, and they are now looking for new volunteers to assist with this research. “We are looking for men under 40 years of age who have advanced hair-loss”, says Privatdozent Dr. Kruse. “And we are also seeking men over 60 with a full head of hair as controls. All participants will receive expense allowances.”

© 2008 Hairlossline – hair loss.