IL-17 Expression in Perifollicular Fibrosis in Biopsies from Lichen Planopilaris

September 2022 in “ The American Journal of Dermatopathology ”

Mariya Miteva, Mehrdad Nadji, Victoria Billero, Charlotte LaSenna, Leigh Nattkemper, Paolo Romanelli

IL-17 perifollicular fibrosis Lichen planopilaris LPP chronic telogen effluvium fibroblasts inflammatory pathway

TLDR Blocking IL-17 might help treat the hair loss condition Lichen planopilaris.

The study "IL-17 Expression in the Perifollicular Fibrosis in Biopsies From Lichen Planopilaris" by Miteva et al. examined the expression of IL-17 in scalp biopsies from 40 patients with active Lichen planopilaris (LPP), a type of hair loss for which there is currently no cure. The researchers found a significant increase in IL-17 expression in the perifollicular fibrosis of the affected follicles in LPP compared to 20 control biopsies from patients with chronic telogen effluvium (P < 0.0001). The cells expressing IL-17 were identified as fibroblasts. The study concludes that blocking the IL-17 inflammatory pathway may interfere with the progression of the perifollicular fibrosis and inflammation in LPP, suggesting a potential new treatment approach.

View this study on journals.lww.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Cited in this study

6 / 6 results

research Lichen Planopilaris and Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia as Model Epithelial Stem Cell Diseases

80 citations , May 2018 in “Trends in Molecular Medicine”

Lichen Planopilaris and Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia may help us understand hair follicle stem cell disorders and suggest new treatments.

research The Contributory Roles of Th17 Lymphocyte and Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte at the Hair Bulge Region and Hair Bulb Area in Chronic Alopecia Areata Patients

18 citations , January 2017 in “Annals of dermatology/Annals of Dermatology”

Certain immune cells contribute to severe hair loss in chronic alopecia areata, with Th17 cells possibly having a bigger impact than cytotoxic T cells.

research The Many Faces of Interleukin-17 in Inflammatory Skin Diseases

77 citations , August 2016 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

IL-17 is a key target for treating inflammatory skin diseases, especially psoriasis.

research Dermoscopy-Guided Scalp Biopsy in Cicatricial Alopecia

62 citations , March 2012 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Using dermoscopy to guide scalp biopsies is an effective way to diagnose cicatricial alopecia.

research The Pathogenesis of Primary Cicatricial Alopecias

150 citations , November 2010 in “The American Journal of Pathology”

The document concludes that more research is needed to better understand and treat primary cicatricial alopecias, and suggests a possible reclassification based on molecular pathways.

research Chronic Telogen Effluvium: Increased Scalp Hair Shedding in Middle-Aged Women

234 citations , December 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Middle-aged women with chronic telogen effluvium experience increased hair shedding but usually don't get significantly thinner hair.

2 / 2 results

research Bold to Do — Bald to Be? Outcomes Decades After Harvesting the Scalp in Burned Children

5 citations , May 2019 in “Burns”

Most patients who had scalp skin removed for burns as children had normal hair growth and were satisfied years later.

research Incidental Syringomas of the Scalp in a Patient with Scarring Alopecia

4 citations , July 2015 in “Case Reports in Dermatology”

A woman with unexplained hair loss was found to have harmless skin tumors and a scarring hair loss condition, but the tumors didn't cause the hair loss.