Functional Interrogation of Lymphocyte Subsets in Alopecia Areata Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing

July 2023 in “ Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ”

Eunice Lee, Zhenpeng Dai, Abhinav Jaiswal, Eddy Hsi Chun Wang, Niroshana Anandasabapathy, Angela M. Christiano

alopecia areata single-cell RNA sequencing CD8+ T cells CD4+ T cells regulatory T cells NK cells B cells γδ T cells effectorness gradient AA Treg cells

TLDR CD8+ T cells drive alopecia areata, while regulatory T cells are protective.

This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze skin-infiltrating immune cells in a mouse model of alopecia areata (AA), focusing on the role of lymphocytes. The research identified CD8+ T cells as the primary drivers of AA, as their depletion prevented and reversed the disease, unlike the depletion of other cell types such as CD4+ T cells, NK, B, or γδ T cells. Regulatory T cells (T<sub>reg</sub>) were found to be protective, indicating that their failure is not a major disease mechanism. The study also identified five subsets of CD8+ T cells characterized by an "effectorness gradient," which is consistent with findings in human AA, suggesting shared disease mechanisms. This research provides a detailed understanding of lymphocyte heterogeneity in AA and offers insights for developing new therapeutic strategies.

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research Functional Interrogation of Lymphocyte Subsets in Alopecia Areata Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing

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46 citations , October 2018 in “JCI insight”

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An Open-Label Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Moderate to Severe Patch-Type Alopecia Areata, Totalis, and Universalis

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research CXCR3 Blockade Inhibits T Cell Migration Into the Skin and Prevents Development of Alopecia Areata

64 citations , July 2016 in “Journal of Immunology”

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research Epidemiology and Burden of Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

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research Alopecia Areata Is Driven by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Is Reversed by JAK Inhibition

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research Genetic Basis of Alopecia Areata

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

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research Apoptosis Resistance in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes of Alopecia Areata Patients

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research Gene Array Profiling and Immunomodulation Studies Define a Cell-Mediated Immune Response Underlying the Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata in a Mouse Model and Humans

114 citations , August 2002 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

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