Assay of hair regrowth marker

Abstract

Terminal hair follicles of the human scalp in the anagen phase of growth are distinguished from non-terminal follicles or from terminal follicles in phases of growth other than anagen by the presence of L-fucose on the cell membranes of the infrainfundibular portion of suprabasal keratinocytes of the follicles. L-fucose can be detected by a lectin specific for it. Accordingly, a method for identifying terminal hair follicles in the anagen phase of growth in the human scalp comprises the steps of: (1) contacting the cell membrane of the infrainfundibular portion of suprabasal keratinocytes with a lectin capable of specifically binding L-fucose on the cell membrane of the infrainfundibular portion of the keratinocytes; and (2) identifying terminal hair follicles by determining the lectin bound, the lectin preferentially binding to terminal hair follicles in the anagen phase of growth as opposed to terminal hair follicles in phases of growth other than anagen or non-terminal hair follicles. The lectin is preferably Ulex europaeus lectin I. Preferably, the lectin is biotinylated and detected through use of a label conjugate comprising a substance specific for biotin conjugated to a detectable label, the substance specific for biotin being selected from the group consisting of avidin and an anti-biotin antibody. The method can be adapted to determine the effectiveness of a drug for therapy of androgenetic alopecia.