Altered polyamine profiling in the hair of patients with androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata

J Dermatol . 2019 Nov;46(11):985-992. doi: 10.1111/1346-8138.15063. Epub 2019 Aug 28.
Altered polyamine profiling in the hair of patients with androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata

Hair follicles are among the most highly proliferative tissues. Polyamines are associated with proliferation, and several polyamines including spermidine and spermine play anti-inflammatory roles. Androgenic alopecia results from increased dihydrotestosterone metabolism, and alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. This study aimed to investigate differences in polyamine profiles in hair samples between patients with androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata. Polyamine concentrations were determined through high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Hair samples were derivatized with isobutyl chloroformate. Differences in polyamine levels were observed between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata compared with normal controls. In particular, polyamine levels were higher in alopecia areata patients than in normal controls. Certain polyamines displayed different concentrations between the androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata groups, suggesting that some polyamines, particularly N-acetyl putrescine (P = 0.007) and N-acetyl cadaverine (P = 0.0021), are significantly different in androgenic alopecia. Furthermore, spermidine (P = 0.021) was significantly different in alopecia areata. Our findings suggest that non-invasive quantification of hair polyamines may help distinguish between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata. Our study provides novel insights into physiological alterations in patients with androgenic alopecia and those with alopecia areata and reveals some differences in polyamine levels in hair loss diseases with two different modes of action.

Keywords: alopecia areata; androgenic alopecia; autoimmune disease; hair follicle; polyamine.

Didn't we already know the difference between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata ?
Also it doesn't seem to say anything about the difference of polyamines between normal control and androgenic alopecia group, whether they were higher or lower.
In Alopecia Areata's case they seem to be higher, but then it also says polamines are anti-inflammatory. So it is a bit confusing.

Yeah, seems like a wasted study. Male-pattern baldness has a certain look and the areata one has it's certain look...patchy hairloss. Who cares who has more polyamines than the other? It doesn't get us any closer to a cure.

Nuada wrote:Didn't we already know the difference between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata ?
Also it doesn't seem to say anything about the difference of polyamines between normal control and androgenic alopecia group, whether they were higher or lower.
In Alopecia Areata's case they seem to be higher, but then it also says polamines are anti-inflammatory. So it is a bit confusing.

Per this study "Association of a polymorphism in the ornithine decarboxylase gene with male androgenetic alopecia"

https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(04)02134-6/fulltext

Been trying to determine if a polyamine synthesis problem is behind AGA/MPB.  Ornithine decarboxylase is a critical step, and it is well known that inhibiting this enzyme will result in hair loss.

Also beyond that, there is the polyamine precursors, which effect prolactin levels. 

Much evidence suggests that prolactin has an immunoregulatory function and that its effects on cells of the immune system depend on the level and specific forms of the receptors present on the target cells. The effect of administration of prolactin on polyamine catabolism was investigated in thymus of male intact rats by measuring the activities of spermidine/spermine N(1)-acetyltransferase and polyamine oxidase, because of the relationships between polyamines (especially putrescine) and the immune system. The administration of prolactin to rats resulted in the rapid induction of spermidine/spermine N(1)-acetyltransferase activity in the thymus (1.6-times the level of control rats, within 4 h), and in a marked decrease in polyamine oxidase activity at 24 h. The changes in enzyme activities were accompanied by an increase in putrescine concentration and a decrease in spermidine and spermine concentrations. In the spleen, prolactin increased SAT activity only 24 h after administration and was ineffective on PAO activity.


Another thing, when polyamines are supplemented in non MPB, hair growth absolutely increases beyond placebo. So based on this evidence above, the breakdown of polyamines could be a critical piece of the puzzle.

CS, this is of increased interest for all of those with gut problems as well, as they are essential for mucosal membrane barriers. There are food sources available.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2019.00108/full

Maybe I didn't read it carefully, but are polyamines higher or lower in MPB? I recall spermidine being a hair growth promoter. We can find it in blue and cheddar cheese, wheat germ, soybeans, and...sperm.