2-Deoxy D-Glucose Treatment Does Not Elicit a Hair Growth Response in Alopecia Areata

The study investigated the effects of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) on alopecia areata (AA) using a mouse model. Despite 2DG's known efficacy in treating other autoimmune disorders, it did not prevent hair loss or promote hair regrowth in mice with AA. The study involved 4 groups of 8 female mice each, with some receiving 2DG in their drinking water and others receiving normal water. After 16 weeks of treatment, followed by 6 weeks of observation, no significant differences were observed between the treated and control groups. The ineffectiveness of 2DG in this context was attributed to the nature of AA, which is primarily mediated by NKG2D+ effector CD8+ T cells that have low dependence on glycolysis, unlike other autoimmune disorders that involve highly glycolytic cells.