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Excess prostaglandin D2 in the scalp causes baldness
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Excess prostaglandin D2 in the scalp inhibits the growth of hair follicles and, consequently, hair itself.
Almost 80% of men suffer from androgenetic alopecia, or baldness. It happens to everyone differently - for some in their youth, for others in old age, and manifests itself in different ways: some go completely bald, while others get off with small bald spots. Some men are ready to give literally everything for new hair, but despite considerable public demand, scientists still do not even know all the causes of baldness, let alone offer effective therapy. It was possible to find out that hair loss is caused by a mutation in the testosterone receptor gene, but such a mutation is found in only a small proportion of men with baldness. Existing drugs were chosen by chance: finasteride (Propecia) was originally developed as an antitumor agent, and minoxidil (Regain) - as a remedy for high blood pressure.
Scientists from the Medical Faculty of the University of Pennsylvania (USA) have managed to find another, possibly the main, cause of baldness. It turned out that the scalp of balding men has increased synthesis of prostaglandin D2 and the enzyme responsible for this process. Prostaglandins are lipid molecules that, like regular hormones, have a powerful effect on physiology. Experiments have shown how prostaglandin D2 affects the condition of hair in mice: if there was a lot of prostaglandin, the hair follicles remained small and could only produce a small hair. Derivatives of this lipid generally suppressed hair growth.
The researchers also managed to identify a protein that “senses” prostaglandin D2 and transmits its instructions inside the cell. It turned out to be GPR44 (G-protein-associated receptor 44). It is believed that it plays the most active role in various allergies, and some companies are already testing drugs that suppress the activity of GPR44. Perhaps these same drugs will work against baldness.
The researchers specify that other prostaglandins work specifically for hair growth: for example, F2 alpha stimulates eyelash growth, and E2 stimulates hair growth in mice. Most likely, the density of hair depends on the balance of different prostaglandins. So whether suppressing the synthesis of the "bad" prostaglandin D2 will be successful, scientists cannot yet say; perhaps other physiologically active molecules will have to be involved to restore hair growth...
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