Novel Genetic Biomarker Linked to Hair Loss Can Determine COVID Severity in Men

Researchers have discovered a new biomarker to identify male COVID-19 patients most at risk for ICU admission. The findings presented today at EADV’s 2021 Spring Symposium suggest that men with genetic traits (phenotypes) sensitive to the male sex hormone androgen are more likely to have severe COVID-19 disease.

Researchers were driven to study the association between the androgen receptor (AR) gene and COVID-19, after observing the disproportionate number of men hospitalized with COVID-19 with androgenetic alopecia (a common form of hair loss) compared to the expected number in a comparable population of the same age (79% vs. 31-53%).

Androgenetic alopecia is known to be controlled by variations in the AR gene, which affects how sensitive the body is to androgens (hormones such as testosterone). In addition, an enzyme involved in COVID-19 infection (TMPRSS2) is regulated by an androgen response element, which means that it can also be affected by variations in the AR gene. Since the polyglutamine repeat region (CAG repeat) in the AR gene is associated with both androgen sensitivity and androgenetic alopecia; This study sought to identify the relationship between the length of the CAG repeat region and the predisposition for increased severity of COVID disease.

A prospective study of 65 hospitalized COVID-19 positive men measured each man’s AR CAG repeat length. Researchers found that male covid patients with a CAG repeat of less than 22 nucleotides (CAG <22) were significantly less likely to be admitted to the ICU than patients with a CAG count greater than or equal to 22 nucleotides (CAG≥22 ; p = 0.05).

Dr. Andy Goren, Chief Medical Officer, Applied Biology, Inc., Irvine, California, USA, explains, “Our data shows that longer AR CAG scores are associated with more severe COVID-19 disease and indicates that AR CAG- duration could be. used as a biomarker to identify male COVID-19 patients most at risk for ICU admissions. “

He continues, “The identification of a biomarker associated with the androgen receptor is another piece of evidence that highlights the important role of androgens in the severity of COVID-19 disease.”

Further research conducted by Dr. Andy Goren and his team, reported at the EADV Spring Symposium, are investigating a promising new therapy for COVID-19 using a novel androgen receptor antagonist to regulate TMPRSS2 expression and potentially treat COVID-19 patients. The results of this research have been submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

“This research demonstrates the scientific value of dermatology by providing important insights into the role of genetics and its relationship to COVID disease. It is an excellent example of some of the groundbreaking summaries shown at this year’s EADV Spring Symposium, ”said Prof. Lidia Rudnicka, EADV board member and professor at Warsaw Medical University.

Meeting: EADV Spring Symposium 2021