TLDR Hair follicles prevent NK cell attacks to avoid hair loss.
The study investigated the role of immune privilege (IP) in hair follicles (HFs) and its link to preventing natural killer (NK) cell attacks, particularly in alopecia areata (AA). It found that normal anagen HFs express high levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), which inhibits NK cells, but this is reduced in AA-affected HFs, leading to increased NK cell attacks. The study involved 5 control patients and 8 AA patients, as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 10 healthy controls, 10 atopic dermatitis patients, and 15 AA patients. The findings suggested that maintaining IP by regulating MIF and other factors could be crucial in preventing autoimmune diseases like AA, emphasizing the importance of controlling NK cell activity to preserve IP.
143 citations,
January 2007 in “The American Journal of Human Genetics” Certain genes on chromosomes 6, 10, 16, and 18 may increase the risk of alopecia areata.
44 citations,
December 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Certain genetic markers, especially the MICA gene, are linked to alopecia areata.
20 citations,
November 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” IFN-γ and IL-2 are important for T cell activation in hair loss in mice.
185 citations,
August 2005 in “Autoimmunity Reviews” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss due to the immune system attacking hair follicles, often influenced by genetics and stress.
23 citations,
March 2001 in “Clinics in dermatology” Alopecia areata involves immune response and gene changes affecting hair loss.
127 citations,
January 2000 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Cytotoxic T cells cause hair loss in chronic alopecia areata.
5 citations,
January 1994 in “Dermatology” Corticosteroid therapy reduces specific immune cells and promotes hair growth in alopecia areata patients.
4 citations,
April 2010 in “Expert review of dermatology” Restoring immune privilege in hair follicles could help treat certain types of hair loss.
91 citations,
January 2010 in “Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology” NK cells play a role in skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis.
1 citations,
September 2013 in “Elsevier eBooks” Hair ages and thins due to factors like inflammation and stress, and treatments like antioxidants and hormones might improve hair health.
27 citations,
January 2013 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Somatostatin may help protect hair follicles from immune attacks.
134 citations,
July 2020 in “Experimental dermatology” Hair follicles are normally protected from the immune system, but when this protection fails, it can cause hair loss in alopecia areata.
