Publications by authors named "Lara M Hochfeld"

Male-pattern hair loss (MPHL) is the most common form of hair loss in humans. Limited treatment options exist, which are not curative and vary in efficacy and invasiveness. Therapeutic and cosmetic hair growth stimulating agents that alleviate hair loss at a low risk of side effects are therefore of interest.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Male-pattern hair loss (MPHL) is common and inherited, and while previous studies mostly focused on common genetic variants, the role of rare variants was less understood.
  • - Research using data from 72,469 men in the UK Biobank found that rare variants have a small overall impact on MPHL risk, but identified five significant gene associations, including previously known genes (like EDA2R, WNT10A) and new ones (HEPH, CEPT1, EIF3F).
  • - The study suggests that genes linked to MPHL share connections with genes causing monogenic hair disorders, expanding our understanding of both MPHL genetics and related conditions.
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More than 300 genetic risk loci have been identified for male pattern baldness (MPB) but little is known about the exact molecular mechanisms through which the associated variants exert their effects on MPB pathophysiology. Here, we aimed at further elucidating the regulatory architecture of the MPB risk locus on chromosome (chr.) 2q35, where we have previously reported a regulatory effect of the MPB lead variant on the expression of WNT10A.

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Frequent testing of large population groups combined with contact tracing and isolation measures will be crucial for containing Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreaks. Here we present LAMP-Seq, a modified, highly scalable reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) method. Unpurified biosamples are barcoded and amplified in a single heat step, and pooled products are analyzed en masse by sequencing.

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Background: The association of molecular phenotypes, such as gene transcript levels, with human common genetic variation can help to improve our understanding of interindividual variability of tissue-specific gene regulation and its implications for disease.

Methods: With the aim to capture the spectrum of biological processes affected by regulatory common genetic variants (minor allele frequency ≥ 1%) in healthy hair follicles (HFs) from scalp tissue, we performed a genome-wide mapping of cis-acting expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in plucked HFs, and applied these eQTLs to help further explain genomic findings for hair-related traits.

Results: We report 374 high-confidence eQTLs found in occipital scalp tissue, whose associated genes (eGenes) showed enrichments for metabolic, mitotic and immune processes, as well as responses to steroid hormones.

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Male-pattern hair loss, also termed androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is a highly prevalent age-related condition that is characterized by a distinct pattern of hair loss from the frontotemporal and vertex regions of the scalp. The phenotype is highly heritable and hormone dependent, with androgens being the recognized critical hormonal factor. Numerous molecular genetic studies have focused on genetic variation in and around the gene that encodes the androgen receptor.

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Male-pattern baldness (MPB) is characterized by a progressive hair loss from the frontal and vertex scalp that affects about 80% of men at the age of 80 years. Epidemiological studies show positive associations between MPB and coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD related risk factors such as blood pressure (BP), diabetes mellitus (DM) or elevated blood lipid levels. The results however vary with regard to the pattern of hair loss (i.

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Article Synopsis
  • Male-pattern baldness (MPB) is a common genetic condition that leads to gradual hair loss and is influenced by androgens.
  • This study involved the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) on MPB with over 22,000 participants, identifying 63 genetic loci related to MPB, including 23 previously unknown ones.
  • The findings suggest that MPB has shared biological connections with other health issues and might be useful as an early warning sign for conditions like prostate cancer and heart disease.
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  • The study investigates the role of micro(mi)RNAs in human hair follicle (HF) cycling, revealing that these molecules are key regulators of hair biology pathways.
  • Researchers analyzed the expression of ten candidate miRNAs in HFs from 25 healthy males and identified target genes linked to known and novel hair-related functions.
  • Findings suggest that exploring miRNA interactions and their target pathways could enhance our understanding of hair growth and potentially address hair loss issues.
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Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a highly heritable condition, and the most common form of hair loss in men. The phenotype is characterized by an androgen-dependent, progressive loss of hair from the scalp, which may commence during puberty. Up to 80% of European men experience some degree of androgen-dependent hair loss during their lifetime.

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