skin & beauty

RUNX3

The Involvement of a Complex Cellular Pathway in Male-Pattern Baldness (RUNX3)

Written by Shany Lahan, MS (Neuroscience) on December 28th, 2020

RUNX3 may be involved in hair follicle cell death. How might variants of RUNX3 promote male-pattern baldness? Read more to find out.

Summary

RUNX3 codes for an essential component of the TGF-beta signaling pathway, which may promote cell death in hair follicles. Variants of RUNX3 may play a role in male-pattern baldness by increasing production of RUNX3 and potentiating TGF-beta pathway activity. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by decreasing activity of the TGF-beta signaling pathway.

RUNX3 and Male-Pattern Baldness

The RUNX3 gene codes for RUNX family transcription factor 3 (RUNX3), a protein that alters gene activity [R].

RUNX3 has been shown to play an integral role in the TGF-beta signaling pathway. This pathway may contribute to a wide array of cellular processes, including cell growth, cell specialization, and cell death [R, R, R].

For example, the TGF-beta pathway may help regulate the hair growth cycle, in which hair grows within follicles, hair follicles regress, and hair falls out [R].

In cells of the hair follicle, heightened activity of the TGF-beta pathway has been suggested to prematurely initiate hair follicle regression and in turn, shorten the hair growth cycle [R].

Variants of RUNX3 have been associated with male-pattern baldness. These variants may increase RUNX3 activity, resulting in excessive cell death within hair follicles and consequent hair loss [R, R].

Your RUNX3 Results for Male-Pattern Baldness

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs760805
rs742230
rs7517302

Primary SNP:

RUNX3 rs760805 [R]

‘A’ = Higher odds of male-pattern baldness, relative to ‘T’
‘T’ = Lower odds of male-pattern baldness, relative to ‘A’

Other Important SNPs:

RUNX3 rs742230 [R]

‘G’ = Higher odds of male-pattern baldness, relative to ‘A’
‘A’ = Lower odds of male-pattern baldness, relative to ‘G’

RUNX3 rs7517302 [R]

‘C’ = Higher odds of male-pattern baldness, relative to ‘T’
‘T’ = Lower odds of male-pattern baldness, relative to ‘C’

Recommendations

Lifestyle

Avoid Cigarettes

Cigarette smoke is well-known to stimulate the TGF-beta pathway, suggesting that it may worsen the effects of RUNX3 risk variants [R, R, R, R, R].

Several studies have associated smoking with an approximately 2-fold increased risk of male-pattern baldness. Cigarette smoke may cause oxidative and inflammatory damage in the hair follicles, impair hair growth, and reduce female sex hormone levels. A study found that the combination of smoking with being overweight increased male-pattern baldness severity [R, R, R, R, R].

Cigarettes may stimulate the TGF-beta pathway. Avoiding cigarettes may therefore help manage male-pattern baldness by preventing excessive TGF-beta signaling pathway stimulation.

Diet

Mediterranean Diet

Olive oil is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil has been found to lower TGF-beta pathway activity in multiple studies [R, R].

In a study of men, the incidence of male-pattern baldness was reduced by over 50% in those consuming a Mediterranean diet rich in fresh vegetables (3 or more per week) and herbs (3 or more regularly) [R].

The Mediterranean diet may help manage male-pattern baldness by decreasing activity of the TGF-beta signaling pathway.

Supplements

Topical Caffeine

Caffeine has been suggested to promote the growth of hair by reducing TGF-beta signaling pathway activity [R, R].

Topical lotions and shampoos with caffeine increased hair strength and thickness while decreasing hair loss in 4 trials of men with male-pattern baldness. The lotion enhanced the effectiveness of minoxidil (a conventional medication) in one of them [R, R, R, R].

Similarly, a shampoo with caffeine used for 6 months reduced hair loss and increased hair strength in women in one trial [R].

Caffeine may help manage male-pattern baldness by decreasing activity of the TGF-beta signaling pathway.

Shany Lahan

MS (Neuroscience)

Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.

Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer’s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing – as well as help them understand the science behind it all.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

More skin & beauty blogs

Genetic Link Between Acne and Inflammation (TNF) Is Your Skin Prone to Trapping Acne Bacteria? (TGFB2) A Gene Linking Bacteria, Inflammation, and Acne (IL4R) A Surprising Genetic Factor for Acne (FST) The Link Between DNA Repair, Oily Skin & Acne (DDB2) A Genetic Link Between an Immune System Protein & Acne (IL8) How a Metabolic Gene Contributes to Acne (PPARG) Cortisol Genetics in Acne Development (HSD11B1) Can Skin Inflammation Cause Acne? (SELL) The Relationship Between Clogged Pores & Acne (IL1A)

Content

Summary RUNX3 and Male-Pattern Baldness Your RUNX3 Results for Male-Pattern Baldness

Unlock Personalized Results And So Much More!

Shipping Worldwide

30-Days Money-Back Guarantee*

HSA/FSA Eligible

Essential Bundle

SelfDecode DNA Kit

24/7 AI Health Coach
1250+ Comprehensive DNA Health Reports
Personalized Diet, Supplement, & Lifestyle Recommendations
Lifestyle Risk Assessments
Unlimited access to Labs Analyzer

$418

$376

Men's Health Month 10% Off

Essential

Bundle

Everything in essential
SelfDecode DNA Kit
Methylation Pathway
+130 Medical Reports
25+ Longevity Screener Risk Assessments

Odds ratios to evaluate your risk for 25+ medical conditions
10-year risk scores to prioritize health conditions
Lifetime risk scores to plan for long-term health

$667

$566

Men's Health Month 15% Off

Men's Health Month 30% Off

Ultimate Bundle

Everything in essential+
SelfDecode DNA Kit
Medication Check (PGx testing) for 50+ medications
40+ Family Planning (Carrier Status) Reports
Ancestry Percentages
Mitochondrial Ancestry

$894

$625

* SelfDecode DNA kits are non-refundable. If you choose to cancel your plan within 30 days you will not be refunded the cost of the kit.

We will never share your data

We follow HIPAA and GDPR policies

We have World-Class Encryption & Security

People Love Us

Rated 4.7/5 from 750+ reviews

People Trust Us

200,000+ users, 2,000+ doctors & 80+ businesses

SelfDecode is a personalized health report service, which enables users to obtain detailed information and reports based on their genome. SelfDecode strongly encourages those who use our service to consult and work with an experienced healthcare provider as our services are not to replace the relationship with a licensed doctor or regular medical screenings.

Policies

About

Support
Our Team
Affiliate Program
Privacy
Media