553 | id == 553
553 | category_id == 30
553 | category_order == 27
553 | category_name == Hair Loss
553 | category_color == #C47AC0
553 | slug == TCF4-baldness
553 | title == A Transcription Factor & Wnt Regulator in Hair Loss (TCF4)
553 | meta_description == The TCF4 gene helps regulate the expression of genes in the wnt pathway. What is its connection to male-pattern baldness?
553 | summary == <p><strong>The <em>TCF4 </em>gene helps regulate the expression of genes in the wnt pathway. What is its connection to male-pattern baldness? Read on to find out.</strong></p>
553 | overall_score_text == Your Hair Loss Score (based on TCF4)
553 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/TCF4-Male-pattern-baldness.jpg
553 | author_id == 1
553 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
553 | author_title == BSc, BEd
553 | author_order == 36
553 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
553 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
553 | reviewer == None
553 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
553 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
553 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
553 | publish_date == 2020
553 | publish_date == 12
553 | publish_date == 15
553 | avg_rating == 5.0
553 | tags_id == 1032
553 | tags_name == Hair Follicle
553 | tags_id == 1033
553 | tags_name == Hair Growth Cycle
553 | tags_id == 1029
553 | tags_name == Hair Loss
553 | tags_id == 1028
553 | tags_name == Male-Pattern Baldness
553 | tags_id == 773
553 | tags_name == TCF4 Gene
553 | tags_id == 1031
553 | tags_name == Wnt Signalling
553 | permissions_favorite == False
553 | permissions_rate == False
553 | content_article == <h2><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">encodes transcription factor 4. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in male-pattern baldness by disrupting the Wnt signalling pathway and the hair growth cycle. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by directly increasing </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or by supporting Wnt signalling.</span></p> <h2><strong><em>TCF4</em></strong><strong> and Male-Pattern Baldness</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/tcf4/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">gene encodes a protein called transcription factor 4, which helps control the expression of other genes [</span><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/tcf4/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many of the genes regulated by TCF4 appear to help with the growth, development, and everyday function of the brain [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28341444/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://jhu.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/disruption-of-tcf4-regulatory-networks-leads-to-abnormal-cortical"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some mutations in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene can cause Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. This genetic disorder is characterized by intellectual disability, developmental delay, breathing problems, and seizures [</span><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/pitt-hopkins-syndrome/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, many variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">have much less obvious or severe effects. TCF4 activates part of the Wnt signalling pathway, which is believed to play an important role in the development of hair follicles and in the growth cycle of hair [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26322419/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2706962/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)36283-7/fulltext"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sure enough, TCF4 is expressed in the stem cells that develop into hair follicles [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4067271/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At least two </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants have been associated with male-pattern baldness. These variants likely disrupt the Wnt signalling pathway, leading to abnormal hair follicles or an interrupted hair growth cycle [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4067271/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene helps regulate the expression of genes in the Wnt pathway, which supports the correct development of hair follicles and the hair growth cycle.</span></span></p> <h2><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>TCF4</em></strong><strong> Results for Male-Pattern Baldness</strong></h2> <p>*6790191763454068*</p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/tcf4/"><strong>TCF4</strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs1452787/"><strong>rs1452787</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with relatively higher rates of male-pattern baldness</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with relatively lower rates of male-pattern baldness</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele may disrupt the Wnt signalling pathway, leading to abnormal hair follicles or an interrupted hair growth cycle [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4067271/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/tcf4/"><strong>TCF4</strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs2958184/"><strong>rs2958184</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with relatively lower rates of male-pattern baldness</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Associated with relatively higher rates of male-pattern baldness</span></li> </ul> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/tcf4/"><strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele may disrupt the Wnt signalling pathway, leading to abnormal hair follicles or an interrupted hair growth cycle [</span></strong></a><strong><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4067271/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></strong></p> <p>*8654991629356612*</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations for Improving Hair Growth</strong></h2> <p>*6748985637570988*</p> <h3><strong>Avoid Cigarettes</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to studies of the brain and respiratory system, people with certain </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of cigarette smoke exposure [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26322419/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3341057/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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 [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12673073/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28555720/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18025364/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32946667/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23629119/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exposure to cigarettes may produce worse outcomes in people with detrimental </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants than in those without risk alleles.</span></span></p> <h3><strong>Mediterranean Diet</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a cell study, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/olive-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">extra-virgin olive oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> increased the expression of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene. The authors of the study attribute the increase in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">to the active plant compounds in the oil, so it&rsquo;s important to seek out a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3283896/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mediterranean diet is an anti-inflammatory diet rich in olive oil. In a study on over 200 men, the incidence of male-pattern baldness was reduced by over 50% in those eating a Mediterranean diet rich in fresh vegetables and herbs [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29181579/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mediterranean diet may reduce the incidence of male-pattern baldness in part through increases of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by olive oil.</span></span></p> <h3><strong>L-Carnitine</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exposure to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/carnitine-top-18-science-based-health-effects-carnitine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">L-carnitine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> enhanced Wnt signalling in stem cells. TCF4 activates part of the Wnt pathway, so L-carnitine may help make up for deficiencies in TCF4 [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367658/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26322419/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a placebo-controlled trial of 60 men and women with baldness caused by male sex hormones, topical application of a solution with 2% L-</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/carnitine-top-18-science-based-health-effects-carnitine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">carnitine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for 6 months increased hair density and the proportion of hairs in the active growth phase. L-carnitine promoted hair follicle cell growth while preventing their death [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17804203/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17927577/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an uncontrolled trial of 60 men and women, two similar commercial solutions with L-carnitine, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/gamma-linolenic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">gamma-linolenic acid</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and a compound from soybean (equol) increased both hair count and the proportion of hairs in the active growth phase after 1-6 months of application [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30371981/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">L-carnitine increased wnt signalling in a cell study. Through this pathway, it may help increase hair density.</span></p>
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553 | content_learn_more_8654991629356612_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your TCF4 gene is somewhat associated with abnormal hair loss. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of male-pattern baldness; it’s just one gene related to it. Avoiding cigarettes, eating a Mediterranean diet, and supplementing with L-carnitine may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs2958184,rs1452787
rsStatus = rs2958184,TCF4,chr18,55484620,A,C,,,28,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1452787,TCF4,chr18,55539976,A,G,,,1,22,HET
