p53 is essential for chemotherapy-induced hair loss

Cancer Res. 2000 Sep 15;60(18):5002-6.

Abstract

Anticancer drugs stimulate apoptosis in the hair follicles (HF) and cause hair loss, the most common side effect of chemotherapy. In a mouse model for chemotherapy-induced hair loss, we demonstrate that p53 is essential for this process: in contrast to wild-type mice, p53-deficient mice show neither hair loss nor apoptosis in the HF keratinocytes that maintained active proliferation after cyclophosphamide treatment. HF in p53 mutants are characterized by down-regulation of Fas and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 and by increased expression of Bcl-2. These observations indicate that local pharmacological inhibition of p53 may be useful to prevent chemotherapy-associated hair loss.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alopecia / chemically induced*
  • Alopecia / etiology
  • Alopecia / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / toxicity*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Cyclophosphamide / toxicity*
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hair Follicle / cytology
  • Hair Follicle / drug effects
  • Hair Follicle / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / biosynthesis
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • fas Receptor / biosynthesis
  • fas Receptor / genetics

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • fas Receptor
  • Cyclophosphamide