Caspase-1 Level Is Higher in the Scalp in Androgenetic Alopecia.

Dermatol Surg. 2012 Mar 8. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2012.02378.x.
Caspase-1 Level Is Higher in the Scalp in Androgenetic Alopecia.
de Rivero Vaccari JP, Sawaya ME, Brand F 3rd, Nusbaum BP, Bauman AJ, Bramlett HM, Dietrich WD, Keane RW.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Inflammasomes that activate caspase-1 govern the innate immune inflammatory response. Whether hair loss associated with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) involves caspase-1 activation is not known.
METHODS:
Immunohistochemical staining for caspase-1 was performed on scalp tissue sections, and protein lysates were analyzed from individuals with AGA (no treatment), and individuals with AGA taking finasteride with apparent hair growth, individuals with AGA taking finasteride without noted hair growth, and normal controls. In vitro studies of human keratinocytes were conducted to establish effects of finasteride, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and testosterone on caspase-1 levels using immunoblot analysis.
RESULTS:
Caspase-1 is expressed in normal human adult epidermal keratinocytes. Caspase-1 expression is greater in men with AGA. In contrast, in men taking finasteride, caspase-1 levels were lower and were similar to those in normal controls. In vitro studies showed that keratinocytes treated with finasteride in combination with testosterone or DHT resulted in a significant decrease in caspase-1 expression.
CONCLUSION:
In vivo and in vitro finasteride treatment resulted in lower caspase-1 expression, supporting the idea that androgens influence innate immunity involved in the hair cycle in AGA. These findings may provide a basis for development of novel treatments for inflammatory skin and hair diseases.

http://www.jle.com/fr/revues/medecine/ejd/e-docs/00/01/88/A1/article.phtml

Caspase 3 seems to be playing the key role in the apoptotic pathway during the catagen phase of the hair cycle in these areas. Finasteride may exhibit its influence by selectively inhibiting DHT, which affects a multitude of "androgen responsive genes", such as the caspase pathway, which affects programmed cell death in the hair cycle

Caustic, any idea on a caspase 3 inhibitor (oral or topic)?

Bump

Inflammasomes that activate caspase-1 govern the innate immune inflammatory response. One example of how to tackle this is Ecklonia cava & EGCG (Green Tea extract).

Caspase-3 is increased (a positive thing) for tumor suppression.
Minocycline inhibits it, however, there's other factors involved where it would
not be desirable to selectively inhibit it.

Thanks Caustic.