Genome-wide differential expression profiling of long non-coding RNAs in androgenetic alopecia in a Chinese male population

Abstract

Background

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), or male pattern baldness (MPB), is the most common form of hair loss in males. A combination of genetic and androgen causes have been suggested as factors that contribute to the development of AGA. However, the specific molecular mechanisms that underly AGA remain largely unknown. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a new class of regulatory noncoding RNAs that are longer than 200 nucleotides, have been shown to play important roles in a number of cellular processes, including transcription, chromosome remodelling, and posttranscriptional processing. The dysregulation of lncRNAs is associated with many forms of diseases, but it remains unknown whether lncRNAs are associated with AGA.

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify AGA-associated lncRNAs and predict the potential roles of these lncRNAs in AGA.

Methods

A genome-wide microarray was used to identify lncRNAs that are differentially expressed between AGA and adjacent normal tissues. Real-time qRT-PCR was used to validate the microarray data.

Results

A large number of lncRNAs were differentially expressed (fold change >2.4) between AGA and adjacent normal tissues. Of these, 770 were up-regulated, and 1,373 were down-regulated. Moreover, pathway analysis revealed that 53 functional pathways were associated with the up-regulated transcripts, while 11 pathways were associated with the down-regulated transcripts.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate AGA-associated lncRNAs. LncRNA profiles are altered in AGA, and these lncRNAs and their target genes may serve as novel candidates for preventing and treating AGA.

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