AIRE Deficiency Leads to the Development of Alopecia Areata-Like Lesions in Mice

The study demonstrates that AIRE deficiency in C57BL/6J female mice leads to the spontaneous development of alopecia areata (AA)-like lesions, with 62% of the mice showing symptoms. These lesions are characterized by hair follicle dystrophy, reduced anagen hair follicles, decreased hair proliferation, and significant inflammatory infiltrate. Molecular analysis revealed upregulation of JAK-STAT signaling and other immune-related genes, indicating a collapse of hair follicle immune privilege. The findings suggest that AIRE is crucial for maintaining hair follicle integrity and immune tolerance, making Aire-deficient mice a valuable model for studying AA pathogenesis.