Androgens modify Wnt agonists/antagonists expression balance in dermal papilla cells preventing hair follicle stem cell differentiation in androgenetic alopecia

- Androgens alter Wnt agonists/antagonists expression balance in dermal papilla.
- In dermal papilla cells (DPC) spheroids, Wnt agonists basal expression is favored.
- DKK-1 mimicked androgen inhibition on hair follicle stem cell (HFSC) differentiation.
- WNT10b overcame androgen inhibition of HFSC differentiation.
- Androgen action on DPC inhibits Wnt pathway in hair follicle differentiating cells.

In androgenetic alopecia, androgens impair dermal papilla-induced hair follicle stem cell (HFSC) differentiation inhibiting Wnt signaling. Wnt agonists/antagonists balance was analyzed after dihydrotestosterone (DHT) stimulation in androgen-sensitive dermal papilla cells (DPC) cultured as spheroids or monolayer. In both culture conditions, DHT stimulation downregulated Wnt5a and Wnt10b mRNA while the Wnt antagonist Dkk-1 was upregulated. Notably, tissue architecture of DPC-spheroids lowers Dkk-1 and enhances Wnt agonists' basal expression; probably contributing to DPC inductivity. The role of Wnt agonists/antagonists as mediators of androgen inhibition of DPC-induced HFSC differentiation was evaluated. Inductive DPC-conditioned medium supplemented with DKK-1 impaired HFSC differentiation mimicking androgens' action. This effect was associated with inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in differentiating HFSC by both DPC-conditioned media. Moreover, addition of WNT10b to DPC-medium conditioned with DHT, overcame androgen inhibition of HFSC differentiation. Our results identify DKK1 and WNT10b as paracrine factors which modulate the HFSC differentiation inhibition involved in androgen-driven balding.