Dickkopf-1 Expression in Androgenetic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata in Male Patients

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) results from shortening of the anagen phase of the hair cycle and, subsequently, miniaturization of hair follicles. Alopecia areata (AA) is a disease of autoimmunity where T cells attack anagen hair follicles and shows multifactorial etiology. Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is a gene that is responsible for transformation of anagen to catagen, which suggests that it is involved in development of both diseases. Objectives: To evaluate the tissue levels of dickkopf-1 in male patients with AGA and AA in comparison with controls, in an attempt to know its role in the pathogenesis of both disorders. Methods: DKK-1 immunohistochemical expression was evaluated in lesional scalp biopsies taken from 20 male patients with AGA evaluated clinically by the modified Norwood–Hamilton score, 20 male patients with AA evaluated clinically by SALT score, and 20 healthy controls within the same age and sex of the studied patients. Results: A highly significant difference in DKK-1 expression between patients with AGA and healthy controls was found (P2

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