Development of Autoimmune Hair Loss Disease Alopecia Areata Is Associated with Cardiac Dysfunction in C3H/HeJ Mice

The 2013 study investigated the association between alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune hair loss disease, and cardiac dysfunction in C3H/HeJ mice. The study involved 10 AA mice and 11 healthy sham-grafted control mice. Findings indicated that AA mice had signs of cardiac dysfunction, including both atrial and ventricular hypertrophy, increased collagen deposition, and elevated levels of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), a marker of heart tissue damage. Gene expression analysis showed increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the skin and heart tissues of AA mice. Additionally, heart atria cultures from AA mice responded to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) treatment with a dose-dependent increase in cTnI release. These results suggest that AA may predispose individuals to abnormal heart remodeling and that patients with AA should be monitored for potential cardiac issues. The preliminary qPCR gene screening included 6 AA mice and 6 healthy controls.