A Study on CAG Repeat Polymorphisms of the Androgen Receptor in Korean Androgenetic Alopecia : Preliminary Report

Jung, Jin Geol; Park, Jong Wook; Kim, Myung Hwa; Cinn, Yong Woo

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The androgen receptor (AR) is a conserved member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Differences in the AR gene sequence are characterized mostly by a highly polymorphic trinucleotide repeat (CAG) encoding a polyglutamine stretch in the N-terminal domain. The transactivational activity of the AR might be inversely associated with the numbers of this CAG repeat chain, and the smaller numbers of CAG repeats are believed to be associated with androgenetic alopecia? (AGA).
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible etiologic association between Korean AGA and CAG repeat numbers in the AR gene.
METHODS
We compared CAG repeat numbers within the AR gene of 64 male Korean AGA patients with those of 40 normal male controls.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the number of CAG repeats between the Korean AGA patients and controls. There were no robust or significant correlations between (i) CAG repeat numbers and (ii) age of onset or severity of AGA in Korean AGA patients.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that AR receptor CAG polymorphisms in the Korean male population might not have a major role in susceptibility to AGA expression.