The Role of Vitamin D Receptor Signaling in Hair Follicle Health and Alopecia: Current Understanding and Therapeutic Implications

The document examines the critical role of vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling in hair follicle health and its potential as a therapeutic target for hair loss disorders like androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. VDR is essential for hair follicle cycling, influencing processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and interacts with various signaling pathways, including Wnt and BMP. The review discusses recent therapeutic developments targeting VDR, from vitamin D supplementation to advanced gene therapy and nanocarrier systems, highlighting the need for effective clinical interventions. It emphasizes the complexity of VDR's functions, the challenges in developing therapies due to its interactions with inflammatory mediators and the immune system, and the importance of personalized therapeutic strategies based on individual genetic profiles. Future research should focus on improving methods to study VDR signaling, developing targeted drug delivery systems, and exploring combination therapies to create effective, personalized treatments for hair disorders.