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Differences in testosterone metabolism by beard and scalp hair follicle dermal papilla cells
Author(s) -
Thornton M. J.,
Laing I.,
Hamada K.,
Messenger A. G.,
Randall V. A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1993.tb02420.x
Subject(s) - dermal papillae , dihydrotestosterone , androgen , endocrinology , medicine , testosterone (patch) , hair follicle , biology , major duodenal papilla , cell culture , chemistry , hormone , genetics
Summary OBJECTIVE Androgens have paradoxically different effects on hair follicles depending on body site, stimulating beard growth while inducing regression in some areas of the scalp. The mesenchyme derived dermal papilla at the base of the hair follicle regulates many aspects of the growth of follicular epithelium, and is probably the site of androgen action. Since 5α‐dihydrotes‐tosterone is considered to be the active intracellular androgen in many target tissues and is required for some androgen‐mediated hair growth, such androgen‐sensitive cells should contain 5α‐reductase. This study was designed to investigate whether cultured human dermal papilla cells contain 5α‐reductase and whether the metabolic capacity varies with the body site of the follicle in line with the clinical picture. DESIGN Testosterone metabolism in cultured dermal papilla cells from androgen sensitive beard follicles was compared with less androgen dependent non‐balding scalp follicles. Primary cell cultures were established from follicles of 11 patients with normal hair growth. The cells were grown to confluence in 10‐cm Petri dishes and incubated with 5 nM 3 H‐testosterone in serum‐free medium for 2 hours. The cells and the culture medium were collected separately for individual analysis. MEASUREMENTS Unlabelled carrier and 14 C‐marker steroids were added to both the cell and medium extracts before separation by thin‐layer chromatography. The individual steroid identities were confirmed by recrystal‐lizing up to five times to a constant 3 H/ 14 C ratio. RESULTS Testosterone was taken up by both cell types; significant amounts of 5α‐dihydrotestosterone were recovered inside beard cells, but not in scalp cells, whereas androstenedione was identified in both. An unidentified compound was present intracellularly in both cell types, but was not present in the culture medium. 5α‐Dihydrotes‐tosterone was present only in the culture medium of beard cells but androstenedione was present in a similar amount in the medium from both cell types. The presence of other steroids could not be confirmed in either the cell extracts or the culture medium. CONCLUSIONS The production of 5α‐dihydrotestosterone by beard cells concurs with the poor beard growth in men with 5α‐reductase deficiency, supporting our hypothesis that androgens mediate their effects on the hair follicle via the mesenchyme‐derived dermal papilla.