Iron Deficiency-Induced Hair Loss Is Associated with ROS-Mediated Disruption of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

Area of Science:

• Developmental biology
• Nutritional science
• Dermatology

Background:

• Maternal iron deficiency during gestation can impact offspring development and health.
• Iron deficiency in pregnant mice leads to hair loss in pups, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanisms by which maternal iron deficiency causes abnormal hair growth in offspring.
• To evaluate the efficacy of iron supplementation in reversing these hair growth abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• Pregnant mice were fed either a control or iron-deficient diet, with offspring continuing on the same diet.
• Hair loss and follicular morphology were assessed, and some offspring were supplemented with iron post-weaning.
• In vitro studies used human follicle dermal papilla cells treated with deferoxamine (DFO) to model iron deficiency.

Main Results:

• Iron-deficient offspring exhibited hair loss, smaller body size, and abnormal hair follicles, which improved with iron supplementation.
• Iron deficiency was associated with increased oxidative stress, reduced Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and elevated caspase-3, NF-κB, and TGF-β activation.
• In vitro, DFO treatment mimicked these effects, and N-acetylcysteine reversed alterations, indicating reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate the hair loss.

Conclusions:

• Early-life iron deficiency impairs hair growth via increased ROS, suppressed Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and enhanced apoptosis.
• Postnatal iron supplementation can effectively reverse these iron deficiency-induced hair abnormalities.