Immune Microenvironment of Hair Follicles in Tumor Immunotherapy

February 2026 in “ ImmunoTargets and Therapy ”

Bo Li, Wenxia Li, Fan Yang, Min Tang, Haozhen Lv, Lei Li, Jianmin Chang

alopecia immune checkpoint inhibitors T cells pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization inflammatory cytokines follicular toxicity topical corticosteroids immunomodulatory agents hair loss immune system blockers steroids immune system modulators

TLDR Tumor immunotherapy can cause hair loss by disrupting hair follicle immunity.

Tumor immunotherapy, while effective against solid tumors, often disrupts the immune microenvironment of hair follicles, leading to adverse effects like alopecia. This disruption is caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors that activate T cells, promote pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization, and upregulate inflammatory cytokines, resulting in follicular toxicity. Current management primarily involves topical corticosteroids and immunomodulatory agents. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions to mitigate these side effects.

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