This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints, Permissions and Rights Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Deplewski, D. Articles by Rosenfield, R. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Deplewski, D. Articles by Rosenfield, R. L.

Role of Hormones in Pilosebaceous Unit Development

Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60637-1470

Androgens are required for sexual hair and sebaceous gland development. However, pilosebaceous unit (PSU) growth and differentiation require the interaction of androgen with numerous other biological factors. The pattern of PSU responsiveness to androgen is determined in the embryo. Hair follicle growth involves close reciprocal epithelial-stromal interactions that recapitulate ontogeny; these interactions are necessary for optimal hair growth in culture. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and retinoids have recently been found to specifically affect sebaceous cell growth and differentiation. Many other hormones such as GH, insulin-like growth factors, insulin, glucocorticoids, estrogen, and thyroid hormone play important roles in PSU growth and development. The biological and endocrinological basis of PSU development and the hormonal treatment of the PSU disorders hirsutism, acne vulgaris, and pattern alopecia are reviewed. Improved understanding of the multiplicity of factors involved in normal PSU growth and differentiation will be necessary to provide optimal treatment approaches for these disorders.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. L. Tom and S. Fallon Friedlander Acne Through the Ages: Case-Based Observations Through Childhood and Adolescence Clinical Pediatrics, September 1, 2008; 47(7): 639 - 651. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. A. Swiglo, M. Cosma, D. N. Flynn, D. M. Kurtz, M. L. LaBella, R. J. Mullan, P. J. Erwin, and V. M. Montori Antiandrogens for the Treatment of Hirsutism: A Systematic Review and Metaanalyses of Randomized Controlled Trials J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2008; 93(4): 1153 - 1160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. Martin, R. J. Chang, D. A. Ehrmann, L. Ibanez, R. A. Lobo, R. L. Rosenfield, J. Shapiro, V. M. Montori, and B. A. Swiglo Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsutism in Premenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2008; 93(4): 1105 - 1120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Ohnemus, M. Uenalan, J. Inzunza, J.-A. Gustafsson, and R. Paus The Hair Follicle as an Estrogen Target and Source Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2006; 27(6): 677 - 706. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Rosenfield Hirsutism N. Engl. J. Med., December 15, 2005; 353(24): 2578 - 2588. [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Schirra, T. Suzuki, S. M. Richards, R. V. Jensen, M. Liu, M. J. Lombardi, P. Rowley, N. S. Treister, and D. A. Sullivan Androgen Control of Gene Expression in the Mouse Meibomian Gland Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., October 1, 2005; 46(10): 3666 - 3675. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Codner, D. Mook-Kanamori, R. A. Bazaes, N. Unanue, H. Sovino, F. Ugarte, A. Avila, G. Iniguez, and F. Cassorla Ovarian Function during Puberty in Girls with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Response to Leuprolide J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2005; 90(7): 3939 - 3945. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Galobardes, G. D. Smith, M. Jeffreys, S. Kinra, and P. McCarron Acne in Adolescence and Cause-specific Mortality: Lower Coronary Heart Disease but Higher Prostate Cancer Mortality: The Glasgow Alumni Cohort Study Am. J. Epidemiol., June 15, 2005; 161(12): 1094 - 1101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Pucci, E. Novembre, E. Lombardi, C. Massai, R. Bernardini, R. Caputo, L. Campa, C. d. Libero, and A. Vierucci Long Eyelashes in a Case Series of 93 Children With Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis Pediatrics, January 1, 2005; 115(1): e86 - e91. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Edmondson, S. P. Thumiger, G. A. Werther, and C. J. Wraight Epidermal Homeostasis: The Role of the Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Systems Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2003; 24(6): 737 - 764. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Allen, M. Grachtchouk, H. Sheng, V. Grachtchouk, A. Wang, L. Wei, J. Liu, A. Ramirez, D. Metzger, P. Chambon, et al. Hedgehog Signaling Regulates Sebaceous Gland Development Am. J. Pathol., December 1, 2003; 163(6): 2173 - 2178. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. Ibanez, K. K. Ong, N. Mongan, J. Jaaskelainen, M. V. Marcos, I. A. Hughes, F. de Zegher, and D. B. Dunger Androgen Receptor Gene CAG Repeat Polymorphism in the Development of Ovarian Hyperandrogenism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2003; 88(7): 3333 - 3338. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. D. Sullivan, J. E. Evans, J. M. Cermak, K. L. Krenzer, M. R. Dana, and D. A. Sullivan Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome: Effect on Human Meibomian Gland Secretions Arch Ophthalmol, December 1, 2002; 120(12): 1689 - 1699. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. C. Zouboulis, H. Seltmann, N. Hiroi, W. Chen, M. Young, M. Oeff, W. A. Scherbaum, C. E. Orfanos, S. M. McCann, and S. R. Bornstein Corticotropin-releasing hormone: An autocrine hormone that promotes lipogenesis in human sebocytes PNAS, May 14, 2002; 99(10): 7148 - 7153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Shaw and L. E. White Persistent Acne in Adult Women Arch Dermatol, September 1, 2001; 137(9): 1252 - 1253. [Full Text] [PDF]