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

September 2022

Rodney Sinclair

alopecia areata ILC1-like innate lymphocytes NKG2D IFN-γ hair follicle immune privilege hair fiber dystrophy CD200R CD127 CXCR6 CD8+ T cells AA interferon gamma

TLDR ILC1-like cells may contribute to hair loss in alopecia areata and could be new treatment targets.

The study explores the involvement of ILC1-like innate lymphocytes in alopecia areata (AA), identifying a novel population of NKG2D+ ILC1-like cells around hair follicles that secrete IFN-γ, leading to hair follicle immune privilege loss and hair fiber dystrophy. These cells are distinct from NK cells, as shown by FACS analysis using markers like CD200R, CD127, and CXCR6. The research challenges the view that AA is solely driven by CD8+ T cells and suggests ILC1-like cells as potential therapeutic targets. Despite limitations such as budget constraints preventing single-cell RNA sequencing, the study provides significant insights into AA's molecular biology and highlights the need for further research to confirm the specific lineage of these cells.

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