61 citations,
September 2010 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” Stress hormones and autoimmune reactions can cause hair loss.
61 citations,
September 2010 in “Genomics” The study found that immune responses disrupt hair growth cycles, causing hair loss in alopecia areata.
717 citations,
June 2010 in “Nature” A genome-wide association study conducted on 1,054 cases and 3,278 controls identified several susceptibility loci for alopecia areata, suggesting the involvement of both innate and adaptive immunity in the disease. The study highlighted significant associations with genes related to regulatory T cells, CTLA4, IL-2/IL-21, IL-2RA, and the HLA region, as well as genes expressed in the hair follicle like PRDX5 and STX17. Notably, the ULBP gene cluster on chromosome 6q25.1, encoding ligands for the natural killer cell receptor NKG2D, was implicated for the first time in autoimmune disease, with ULBP3 expression upregulated in the hair follicle during active disease. This research provided insights into the genetic basis of alopecia areata and suggested a novel mechanism involving ULBP ligand upregulation in autoimmunity.
391 citations,
January 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Half of people with Alopecia Areata may see hair regrowth within a year without treatment, but recovery is unpredictable.
64 citations,
November 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” A new type of rapid hair loss called ADTA usually gets better on its own within 6 months.
24 citations,
January 2008 in “KARGER eBooks” The document concludes that ongoing research using animal models is crucial for better understanding and treating Alopecia Areata.
253 citations,
December 2007 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” The study explored how hair follicles (HFs) maintain immune privilege (IP) to avoid natural killer (NK) cell attacks, which typically target cells with low MHC class I expression. It was found that HFs actively suppress NK cells, with the HF epithelium expressing the NK cell inhibitor macrophage migration inhibitory factor. In healthy individuals, fewer NK function-activating receptors and more inhibitory receptors were present compared to those with alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disease linked to a breakdown of HF-IP. AA patients showed increased NK cell activity around hair follicles, suggesting a defect in NK cell inhibition that contributes to the disease's pathogenesis. This defect was previously unreported and highlighted the need for considering NK cell activity in AA management.
151 citations,
February 2007 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Alopecia areata causes hair loss, has no cure, and various treatments exist.
194 citations,
March 2003 in “American Journal of Pathology” Stress stops hair growth in mice by causing early hair growth phase end and harmful inflammation through a specific nerve-related pathway.
29 citations,
January 2003 in “Dermatology” The condition called 'acute diffuse and total alopecia of the female scalp' is actually a known condition named alopecia areata incognita.
275 citations,
November 2002 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Alopecia areata mainly affects young people and has significant psychological impacts, especially in males.
59 citations,
January 2002 in “Dermatology” A new type of sudden, complete female hair loss was found, with most patients fully recovering within 6 months without needing steroid treatment.
