Antigen Presenting Cells in the Skin of a Patient with Hair Loss and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
September 2009
in “
PubMed
”
systemic lupus erythematosus SLE scalp hair loss arthralgias epidermal hyperkeratosis lymphocytes histiocytes CD4 positive cells hair follicles sebaceous glands antibodies antigen presenting cells APCs dendritic cells DCs Pattern Recognition Receptors PRRs alopecia lupus hair loss joint pain skin thickening immune cells hair roots oil glands immune proteins immune system cells immune system sensors
TLDR Antigen presenting cells around hair follicles are crucial in SLE-related hair loss.
This study described a 33-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who experienced scalp hair loss and arthralgias. Scalp biopsies showed epidermal hyperkeratosis and infiltrates of lymphocytes and histiocytes, predominantly CD4 positive cells, around hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Antibodies to various markers were strongly positive in these areas. The study highlighted the significant presence of antigen presenting cells (APCs) around hair follicles in SLE-related alopecia, suggesting that APCs and dendritic cells (DCs) with Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) play a crucial role in the disease's pathophysiology.
