The Changing Landscape of Alopecia Areata: The Translational Landscape

June 2017 in “ Advances in Therapy ”

Etienne C.E. Wang, Angela M. Christiano

Alopecia Areata JAK-STAT signaling pathway JAK inhibitors abatacept simvastatin ezetimibe biologic therapies IL-15 IFN-y IL-2 low-dose IL-2 non-invasive diagnostic tools ALADIN index

TLDR New treatments for hair loss are showing promise due to better understanding of genetics and the immune system.

The 2017 review outlined advancements in the understanding and treatment of Alopecia Areata (AA), emphasizing the role of genetic studies in identifying key genes and pathways, such as the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which led to the use of JAK inhibitors with promising results. It also discussed the potential of other treatments like abatacept, simvastatin/ezetimibe, and biologic therapies targeting IL-15, IFN-y, and IL-2, with low-dose IL-2 showing modest results. The review highlighted the use of non-invasive diagnostic tools and the ALADIN index for disease activity assessment. It concluded that ongoing research and a deeper understanding of the immune system are paving the way for more precise and personalized treatments for AA, though larger studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of some of these treatments. The work was supported by NIH Grant P50 AR070588-01, and no new data were generated or analyzed for this review.

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15 / 15 results

research Safety and Efficacy of the JAK Inhibitor Tofacitinib Citrate in Patients with Alopecia Areata

222 citations , September 2016 in “JCI insight”

Tofacitinib is safe and effective for severe alopecia areata, but hair loss may return 2 months after stopping treatment.

research Oral Ruxolitinib Induces Hair Regrowth in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Alopecia Areata

196 citations , September 2016 in “JCI insight”

Ruxolitinib effectively regrows hair in most patients with severe hair loss.

research CXCR3 Blockade Inhibits T Cell Migration Into the Skin and Prevents Development of Alopecia Areata

64 citations , August 2016 in “Journal of Immunology”

Blocking the CXCR3 receptor reduces T cell accumulation in the skin and prevents hair loss in mice.

research ULBP3: A Marker for Alopecia Areata Incognita

15 citations , May 2016 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

ULBP3 could be a marker for diagnosing alopecia areata incognita and may be linked to its cause and development.

research Extensive Alopecia Areata Is Reversed by IL-12/IL-23p40 Cytokine Antagonism

68 citations , January 2016 in “The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology”

Blocking IL-12/IL-23p40 helped reverse severe hair loss in patients.

research Current Treatments for Alopecia Areata

21 citations , November 2015 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings”

There is no cure for alopecia areata, but treatments like JAK inhibitors show promise.

research Alopecia Areata Profiling Shows TH1, TH2, and IL-23 Cytokine Activation Without Parallel TH17/TH22 Skewing

176 citations , November 2015 in “The journal of allergy and clinical immunology/Journal of allergy and clinical immunology/The journal of allergy and clinical immunology”

Alopecia areata involves immune activation in the scalp, suggesting treatments targeting TH1, TH2, and IL-23 pathways.

research Alopecia Areata Is Driven by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Is Reversed by JAK Inhibition

701 citations , August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

Alopecia areata can be reversed by JAK inhibitors, promoting hair regrowth.

research Alopecia Areata: An Evidence-Based Treatment Update

72 citations , July 2014 in “American journal of clinical dermatology”

Some treatments, like corticosteroids and sensitizing agents, can help with alopecia areata, but more high-quality research is needed.

research Safety and Efficacy of Adalimumab for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata: Case Series of Three Patients

12 citations , July 2012 in “Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery”

Adalimumab was safe but mostly ineffective for severe alopecia areata.

research The Genetics of Alopecia Areata: What's New and How Will It Help Our Patients?

43 citations , May 2011 in “Dermatologic therapy”

New genetic discoveries in alopecia areata could lead to better treatments.

research Reflectance Confocal Microscopy of the Yellow Dot Pattern in Alopecia Areata

39 citations , January 2011 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Reflectance confocal microscopy confirms that yellow dots are signs of damaged hair follicles in alopecia areata.

research The Role of Scalp Dermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata Incognita

150 citations , July 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Scalp dermoscopy is good for diagnosing a type of hair loss and helps choose the best spots for biopsy.

research The Functional Relevance of the Type 1 Cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 in Alopecia Areata of C3H/HeJ Mice

20 citations , December 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

IFN-γ and IL-2 are important for T cell activation in hair loss in mice.

research Experimental Induction of Alopecia Areata-Like Hair Loss in C3H/HeJ Mice Using Full-Thickness Skin Grafts

131 citations , November 1998 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Skin grafts on mice can cause an immune response leading to hair loss, useful for studying human hair loss conditions.

6 / 6 results

research Phototherapy for Alopecia Areata

9 citations , September 2016 in “Clinics in dermatology”

Phototherapy can help treat hair loss in alopecia areata.

research Alopecia Areata: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Unusual Cases

109 citations , May 2011 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that can lead to complete baldness, often associated with other autoimmune conditions, and half of the cases may see hair return within a year.

research Treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata

72 citations , January 2001 in “Drugs”

Minoxidil and finasteride treat hair loss; more research needed for other options.