Alopecia Areata Possibly Induced by Autoimmune Reaction in a Patient with Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus-1-Associated Myelopathy
May 2013
in “
The Journal of Dermatology
”
alopecia areata alopecia areata totalis human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 myelopathy cell-mediated autoimmune reactions CXCR3+ CD8+ T cells hair bulbs alopecic lesions flow cytometric analysis CD8+ human leukocyte antigen DR+-activated T cells CD4+ CD25+ adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cells autoreactive CD8+ T cells cytotoxic CD8+ T cells hair loss immune system reaction hair follicles immune cells blood test activated T cells leukemia cells
TLDR Autoimmune reactions may cause both alopecia areata and HAM.
A 38-year-old female patient experienced alopecia areata totalis followed by human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1-associated myelopathy (HAM), both of which were suggested to be linked to cell-mediated autoimmune reactions. Immunohistochemistry showed an accumulation of CXCR3+ CD8+ T cells around hair bulbs in alopecic areas, and flow cytometry revealed an increased frequency of CD8+ human leukocyte antigen DR+-activated T cells during the initial phase, which decreased during hair regrowth with HAM. Additionally, CD4+ CD25+ adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cells were elevated during hair loss and decreased after improvement. These findings indicated that autoreactive and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells might induce both alopecia areata and HAM in ATL patients, suggesting that autoimmune reactions could play a significant role in the pathogenesis of these conditions.
