Sirna mediated post-transriptional gene silencing of genes involved in alopecia

A method of reducing hair loss in mammal comprising the step of:

• administering to the mammal a composition comprising a double-stranded ribonucleic acid, wherein one strand comprises at least a partial nucleic acid sequence of an androgen signal transduction pathway protein, and wherein the double-stranded ribonucleic acid interferes with the translation of mRNA of the androgen signal transduction protein;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A method of treating alopecia comprising the step of:

• administering to a mammal a composition comprising a double-stranded ribonucleic acid, wherein one strand comprises at least a partial nucleic acid sequence of an androgen signal transduction pathway protein, and wherein the double-stranded ribonucleic acid interferes with the translation of mRNA of the androgen signal transduction protein;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A method of inducing hair growth comprising the step of:

• increasing the duration of anagen of a hair cell of a mammal by contacting the hair cell with a double-stranded ribonucleic acid, wherein one strand comprises at least a partial nucleic acid sequence of an androgen signal transduction pathway protein.

A method of promoting hair growth or decreasing hair loss, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an agent comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a small inhibitory ribonucleic acid comprising at least a partial nucleic acid sequence of an androgen signal transduction pathway protein and physiologically compatible salts thereof;
• and b) applying said agent to hair and scalp in an amount sufficient for said promoting of said hair growth or said decreasing of said hair loss.

An inhibitory nucleic acid comprising:

• a double-stranded ribonucleic acid, wherein one strand comprises at least a partial nucleic acid sequence of an androgen signal transduction pathway protein, and wherein the double-stranded ribonucleic acid inhibits the translation of a mRNA encoding the nucleic acid sequence of the androgen signal transduction pathway protein.

A vector comprising:

• a double-stranded ribonucleic acid, wherein one strand comprises at least a partial nucleic acid sequence of all androgen signal transduction pathway protein, and wherein the double-stranded ribonucleic acid inhibits the translation of a mRNA encoding the nucleic acid sequence of the androgen signal transduction pathway protein.

A cell comprising:

• a double-stranded ribonucleic acid, wherein one strand comprises at least a partial nucleic acid sequence of an androgen signal transduction pathway protein, and wherein the double-stranded ribonucleic acid inhibits the translation of a mRNA encoding the nucleic acid sequence of the androgen signal transduction pathway protein.

A method of treating hair loss in a mammal comprising reducing the levels of dihydroxy testosterone in the mammal by contacting the mammal with an effective amount of inhibitory nucleic acid specific for 5-a-reductase, wherein the effective amount of inhibitory nucleic acid specific for 5-a-reductase inhibits the expression of 5-a reductase protein.

A method of reducing testosterone metabolites in a cell comprising contacting the cell with an amount of inhibitory nucleic acid specific for 5-a-reductase sufficient to reduce the levels of 5-a reductase protein in the cell.