IADR Abstract Archives
Androgenetic Alopecia and Periodontal Disease: Role of 5-α Reductase
Objectives: Androgenetic alopecia (AA) is a common form of hair loss in both men and women and has been associated with several conditions including coronary heart disease, enlargement of the prostate, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. While its exact etiology is not fully understood, inflammation has been linked to the pathological loss of hair in which 5-αreductase enzyme levels were found critical. 5-α reductase has also been linked to periodontal disease and wound healing. Therefore, we hypothesized that AA and periodontal diseases were associated and 5-α reductase would be a mechanistic link between these two pathologies of distant organs in the same individual.
Methods: First, we studied the association between AA and periodontitis in a cohort of 385 individuals. Second, we studied the impact of periodontal treatment on the expression of 5-α reductase in a total of 72 gingival biopsies obtained from 36 patients with periodontitis before and after periodontal treatment. Third, we characterized the expression of 5-α reductase in gingival fibroblasts treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis. In tissue biopsies, 5-α reductase levels were analyzed immunohistochemically. In gingival fibroblast cell cultures, 5-α reductase mRNA expression was assessed with real time PCR; its protein levels were determined by immunocytochemistry. In the supernatants of gingival fibroblast cell cultures, levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, IFN-y, IL-1b and MCP-1 were assessed by multiplex immunoassay.
Results: There was a significant association between AA and periodontitis in humans (p<0.001). In gingival biopsies, the levels of 5-α reductase type-1 decreased with periodontal treatment (p <0.001). P. gingivalis stimulated the expression of 5-α reductase in gingival fibroblasts and production of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-8 in the supernatant cultures (p<0.05).
Conclusions: The results suggested that there was an association between AA and periodontal disease, where 5-α reductase may play a mechanistic role.
Methods: First, we studied the association between AA and periodontitis in a cohort of 385 individuals. Second, we studied the impact of periodontal treatment on the expression of 5-α reductase in a total of 72 gingival biopsies obtained from 36 patients with periodontitis before and after periodontal treatment. Third, we characterized the expression of 5-α reductase in gingival fibroblasts treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis. In tissue biopsies, 5-α reductase levels were analyzed immunohistochemically. In gingival fibroblast cell cultures, 5-α reductase mRNA expression was assessed with real time PCR; its protein levels were determined by immunocytochemistry. In the supernatants of gingival fibroblast cell cultures, levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, IFN-y, IL-1b and MCP-1 were assessed by multiplex immunoassay.
Results: There was a significant association between AA and periodontitis in humans (p<0.001). In gingival biopsies, the levels of 5-α reductase type-1 decreased with periodontal treatment (p <0.001). P. gingivalis stimulated the expression of 5-α reductase in gingival fibroblasts and production of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-8 in the supernatant cultures (p<0.05).
Conclusions: The results suggested that there was an association between AA and periodontal disease, where 5-α reductase may play a mechanistic role.