Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Shows Robust T Helper 1 and Janus Kinase 3 Skewing

    Ester Del Duca, Juan Ruano, Ana B. Pavel, R.D. Sanyal, Teresa Song, Jesús Gay-Mimbrera, N. Zhang, Yeriel Estrada, Xiangyu Peng, Yael Renert‐Yuval, Robert Phelps, Ralf Paus, James G. Krueger, Emma Guttman‐Yassky
    TLDR Frontal fibrosing alopecia is linked to increased immune system activity and reduced stem cells, suggesting early treatment targeting this pathway might prevent hair follicle damage.
    The study investigated the pathogenesis of Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) by comparing scalp biopsies from 12 FFA patients, 8 alopecia areata (AA) patients, and 8 controls, focusing on gene and protein expression. The results showed significant increases in CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, CD11c+ dendritic cells, and tissue-resident memory T cells in FFA and AA compared to controls, with a notable upregulation of granzyme B mRNA in FFA. FFA was characterized by a significant upregulation of T helper 1/interferon (IFN) and the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway, as well as fibrosis-related products, without the downregulation of hair keratins and T-regulatory markers seen in AA. Additionally, stem cell markers were significantly reduced in FFA. These findings suggest that immune-mediated attack in the bulge region of the hair follicle, followed by fibrosis and a decrease in stem cells, may contribute to follicular damage in FFA. The study implies that JAK/STAT-targeting treatments could potentially prevent permanent follicular destruction and fibrosis if applied in the early stages of the disease.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    48 / 48 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 393 results

      community scarring alopecia awareness in this community

      in Chat  33 upvotes 2 years ago
      Lichen Planopilaris (LPP), a form of permanent hair loss, which can be mistaken for seborrheic dermatitis and is characterized by scalp itching, burning, redness, and dandruff. Treatment options discussed include steroidal creams, finasteride, minoxidil, and RU58841.
      Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      in Research  692 upvotes 4 months ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community Diffuse thinning is so brutal.

      in Styling  72 upvotes 1 year ago
      A 25-year-old with AGA experienced hair thinning and dandruff, stabilized with topical finasteride and minoxidil but saw minimal regrowth. They seek advice on styling and consider oral minoxidil and microneedling for denser hair.

      community 9 months on Fin - no progress , should I get on Dutasteride?

      in Chat  10 upvotes 1 month ago
      The user has been using finasteride, minoxidil, and nizoral for hair loss but hasn't seen regrowth, only maintenance. They are considering switching to dutasteride, which is believed to be more effective, but are concerned about potential side effects.

      community Testosterone and hair loss seeming irrelevance

      in Research/Science  81 upvotes 1 year ago
      The conversation is about the role of testosterone in hair loss and the effectiveness of different treatments. The conclusion is that DHT is the main culprit for hair loss, and finasteride has been proven to work long-term in maintaining and regrowing hair. Testosterone may have a minor effect, but it is not the primary cause of hair loss.

    Related Research

    1 / 1 results