Autoimmune Disease Induction in a Healthy Human Organ: A Humanized Mouse Model of Alopecia Areata

October 2012 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”

Amos Gilhar, Aviad Keren, Avner Shemer, Roberto d’Ovidio, Yehuda Ullmann, Ralf Paus

alopecia areata autoimmune hair loss humanized mouse model peripheral blood mononuclear cells PBMCs NKG2D+ cells CD56+ cells immunocompromised mice hair loss disorder AA

TLDR Alopecia areata can be triggered by specific immune cells without genetic or environmental factors.

The study developed a humanized mouse model to replicate alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune hair loss disorder, by using healthy human skin grafts on immunocompromised mice. The model involved injecting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) enriched for NKG2D+ and CD56+ cells from healthy donors into the grafts, which induced AA-like hair loss. This model demonstrated that AA could be induced without predisposing genetic or environmental factors, highlighting the role of NKG2D+ and CD56+ cells in AA pathogenesis. The study used 55 mice and provided a valuable tool for preclinical testing of AA therapies.

View this study on jidonline.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

4 / 4 results

research Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss

421 citations, April 2012 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss with no cure and treatments that often don't work well.

research Genome-Wide Association Study in Alopecia Areata Implicates Both Innate and Adaptive Immunity

717 citations, June 2010 in “Nature”

Alopecia areata involves both innate and adaptive immunity, with specific genes linked to the disease.

research Maintenance of Hair Follicle Immune Privilege Is Linked to Prevention of NK Cell Attack

253 citations, December 2007 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Hair follicles prevent NK cell attacks to avoid hair loss.

research Probing the Effects of Stress Mediators on the Human Hair Follicle

159 citations, December 2007 in “American Journal of Pathology”

Stress-related substance P may lead to hair loss and negatively affect hair growth.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community Lilly to seek first approval of an autoimmune drug for hair loss

in Research/Science 18 upvotes 3 years ago

Eli Lilly's drug baricitinib showed effectiveness in treating alopecia areata, with higher doses resulting in significant hair regrowth compared to placebo. The treatment is not for male pattern baldness.

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 My experience and a discourse on “DUPA”

in Chat 46 upvotes 2 years ago

How diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA) is not an invitation to self-diagnose oneself with aggressive AGA and that seeking a specialized dermatologist may help people experiencing hair loss. Treatment options discussed include topical clobetasol propionate, oral minoxidil, and discontinuing finasteride.

community AGA evaluation and first steps - BEGINNER MEGAPOST

in Chat 76 upvotes 3 months ago

The conversation discusses androgenic alopecia (AGA) and its treatments, focusing on finasteride, minoxidil, and ketoconazole shampoo. Finasteride is recommended as essential for preventing further hair loss.

community I’m 14 years old and I’m losing more hair than my dad. I’ve gone to the doctor 2 times because of this and I’ve received no help. I’m starting to feel like It’s worthless and my hairs gonna look like this forever. I don’t know how anyone could help me but it’s always worth a shot.

in Treatment 4 years ago

A 14 year old who is experiencing hair loss and has not received any help from the doctor, with advice being given to try different doctors, get tested for underlying conditions and intolerances, buzz it short as an option and treatments that could slow down or reverse the hair loss such as minoxidil, finasteride, RU58841 and addressing the cause of the hair loss.

community 17M biotin and minoxidil hair regrowth progress

in Progress Pictures 83 upvotes 1 year ago

A user's hair regrowth journey using biotin and minoxidil after initial treatments with Nizoral shampoo and Ketoconazole serum didn't work. The comments suggest the hair loss might not be male pattern baldness (MPB), but possibly Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disorder, and recommend getting a second opinion and considering other treatments like corticosteroids.

Similar Research

6 / 1000+ results

research The Role of Lymphocytes in the Development and Treatment of Alopecia Areata

60 citations, September 2015 in “Expert Review of Clinical Immunology”

Lymphocytes, especially CD8+ T cells, play a key role in causing alopecia areata, and targeting them may lead to new treatments.

research Alopecia Areata: Overview and Insights from January 2018

290 citations, December 2017 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss, influenced by genetics, stress, and diet, and may be prevented by a high soy oil diet.

research Alopecia Areata: A Review of Disease Pathogenesis

191 citations, May 2018 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

Alopecia areata is likely an autoimmune disease with unclear triggers, involving various immune cells and molecules, and currently has no cure.

Involvement of ILC1-Like Innate Lymphocytes in Human Autoimmunity: Lessons from Alopecia Areata