Abd-Elmagid Wafaa Mohamed, Amr Khalda S, Ahmed Hoda A, Ali Dina, Abdelhamed Amr
Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.
Medical Molecular Genetics Department, Human Genetics & Genome Research Division (HGGR), National Research Centre (NRC), Egypt.
Dermatol Pract Concept. 2025 Apr 1;15(2):4876. doi: 10.5826/dpc.1502a4876.
Premature graying of hair (PGH) is a common disorder with a multifactorial etiology. Autophagy, which is self-cellular digestion, has been linked to melanin pigment formation; however, the role of autophagy in PGH has not been investigated well.
The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between PGH and autophagy by measuring gene expression and serum microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) concentration.
A case-control study was conducted on 39 PGH patients and 21 controls. Patients clinically diagnosed with PGH and aged <30 years were included in the study. Blood samples were taken to detect LC3B protein by ELISA in the serum of both groups. White hairs from both groups were collected to detect LC3B gene expression by PCR.
There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups as regards expression levels of the LC3 gene by PCR (P<0.001), with the mean in the control group (0.71± 0.3) lower than in the PGH group (5.1 ± 1.4). Also, there was a positive significant correlation between LC3 concentration and LC3 gene expression in control (r=0.867, P< 0.001) and in PGH patients (r=0.954, P≤0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis for PGH predictors using age, sex (female), hemoglobin level, LC3 concentration, and LC3 gene expression revealed that the only predictor of PGH was LC3 gene expression.
Premature graying of hair may have a link with autophagy. LC3 gene expression was increased in PGH patients as compared to the control. LC3 gene expression may be an independent predictor of PGH development. Autophagy modulation may be a therapeutic target for PGH.
头发早白（PGH）是一种病因多因素的常见病症。自噬即细胞自我消化，与黑色素形成有关；然而，自噬在头发早白中的作用尚未得到充分研究。
本研究旨在通过测量基因表达和血清微管相关蛋白轻链3（LC3）浓度来评估头发早白与自噬之间的关系。
对39例头发早白患者和21例对照者进行了病例对照研究。纳入临床诊断为头发早白且年龄<30岁的患者。采集两组的血样，通过酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）检测血清中的LC3B蛋白。收集两组的白发，通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测LC3B基因表达。
通过PCR检测，两组间LC3基因的表达水平存在统计学显著差异（P<0.001），对照组的平均值（0.71±0.3）低于头发早白组（5.1±1.4）。此外，对照组（r=0.867，P<0.001）和头发早白患者组（r=0.954，P≤0.001）中，LC3浓度与LC3基因表达之间存在显著正相关。使用年龄、性别（女性）、血红蛋白水平、LC3浓度和LC3基因表达对头发早白预测因素进行多变量逻辑回归分析显示，头发早白的唯一预测因素是LC3基因表达。
头发早白可能与自噬有关。与对照组相比，头发早白患者的LC3基因表达增加。LC3基因表达可能是头发早白发生的独立预测因素。自噬调节可能是头发早白的一个治疗靶点。
