A Hair-Raising History of Alopecia Areata

January 2020 in “ Experimental Dermatology ”

David Broadley, Kevin J. McElwee

alopecia areata hair follicle immune privilege autoantibodies T cells miRNAs JAK inhibitors autoimmune disorder AA immune privilege microRNAs

TLDR The document concludes that understanding and treatments for alopecia areata have significantly advanced, now recognizing it as an autoimmune disorder.

The document from 2020 provided a comprehensive historical overview of the understanding, research, and treatment of alopecia areata (AA), a condition causing hair loss. It traced the evolution of AA research from the first known record in 1500 BCE to the identification of hair follicle "immune privilege" in 1971, and the development of animal models for AA research in the 1990s. The document also highlighted significant advancements in AA research, with the number of publications on AA growing from 15 per year in the 1950s to around 170 per year in the 2010s. Key findings included the identification of hair follicle-specific autoantibodies in AA patients, the role of T cells in AA, and the potential role of miRNAs in AA pathogenesis. The document also outlined various treatments for AA throughout history, from ancient remedies to modern treatments like JAK inhibitors. Theories of AA pathogenesis evolved over time, with the most recent considering AA as an autoimmune disorder.

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