Hair follicle sulfotransferase activity and effectiveness of oral minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia.

Publisher: Blackwell Science Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101130964 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1473-2165 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14732130 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Cosmet Dermatol Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Oxford, UK : Blackwell Science, c2002-

Minoxidil*/administration & dosage ; Alopecia*/drug therapy ; Hair Follicle*/drug effects ; Sulfotransferases*/metabolism; Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Administration, Oral ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; Hair/drug effects ; Hair/growth & development

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is common. While topical minoxidil remains the only FDA-approved therapeutic for AGA, its efficacy is limited in stimulating clinically significant hair regrowth over the longer term. Oral minoxidil, which is used off-label, is a promising alternative; however, its effectiveness and underlying mechanisms warrant further investigation.
Aims: To elucidate the site of action and infer the physiological mechanisms underlying therapeutic responses to oral minoxidil in patients with AGA.
Methods: Forty-one patients with AGA underwent 6 months of low-dose oral minoxidil treatment. Minoxidil sulfotransferase (SULT) activity was assayed in plucked scalp hair follicles. The primary outcome was hair growth after low-dose oral minoxidil treatment for a minimum of 6 months, and the secondary outcome was SULT activity in hair follicles.
Results: After 6 months of treatment, 26 (63.4%) patients experienced a clinical improvement in alopecia symptoms. The response rate was higher in men (19/26 [73.1%]) than in women (6/15 [40.0%]). Patients with low hair follicle SULT activity demonstrated a higher minoxidil response rate than those with high enzyme activity (85% vs. 43%, p = 0.009).
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that low SULT activity within the hair follicles is associated with a favorable response to oral minoxidil therapy in patients with AGA. Further elucidation of the underlying mechanisms could significantly improve personalized therapeutic approaches through improved patient selection and the rational design of adjuvant treatments.
(© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

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Keywords: androgenetic alopecia; enzyme activity; hair follicle; minoxidil; sulfotransferase (SULT1A1)

5965120SH1 (Minoxidil)
EC 2.8.2.- (Sulfotransferases)

Date Created: 20240722 Date Completed: 20241030 Latest Revision: 20241030

20241031

10.1111/jocd.16473

39034734