iNKT Cells Ameliorate Human Autoimmunity: Lessons from Alopecia Areata

The study demonstrated that iNKT10 cells played a significant role in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disease. In a humanized mouse model, AA lesions were induced by injecting pre-activated PBMCs, and the development of these lesions was prevented by α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), which activated iNKT cells to produce IL-10. Additionally, α-GalCer treatment promoted hair regrowth in pre-established AA lesions through the interaction of effector-memory iNKT cells with CD8+/NKG2D+ T cells and IL-10 production. This provided the first in vivo evidence that iNKT10 cells are protective lymphocytes in AA, suggesting that targeting these cells could have preventive and therapeutic potential for AA and related autoimmune disorders.