Lymphocytes, Neuropeptides, And Genes Involved In Alopecia Areata

August 2007 in “ Journal of Clinical Investigation ”

Amos Gilhar, Ralf Paus, Richard S. Kalish

alopecia areata autoimmunity immune privilege T cell hair follicles HLA associations immunogenetic factors neuroendocrine parameters

The study of alopecia areata provided insights into autoimmunity, particularly regarding immune privilege and the interaction between genetics and neuroimmunology. Alopecia areata was identified as a T cell–mediated autoimmune disease affecting hair follicles, with disease onset linked to the collapse of hair follicle immune privilege in humans and animal models. The research reviewed the involvement of HLA associations, other immunogenetic factors, and neuroendocrine parameters in the disease's pathogenesis, highlighting its significance as a model disease for the immunology community.

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Research cited in this study

17 / 17 results

research Alopecia Areata: Overview and Treatment Options

151 citations, February 2007 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Alopecia areata causes hair loss, has no cure, and various treatments exist.

research Genomewide Scan for Linkage Reveals Evidence of Several Susceptibility Loci for Alopecia Areata

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The study conducted a genomewide search for genetic linkage in 20 families with alopecia areata (AA), involving 102 affected and 118 unaffected individuals from the U.S. and Israel. It identified at least four susceptibility loci on chromosomes 6, 10, 16, and 18, with significant LOD scores on chromosomes 16 and 18. The findings supported previous associations of the human leukocyte antigen locus with AA and suggested that regions on chromosomes 16 and 18 might harbor genes involved in various skin and hair disorders. The study highlighted the complex genetic nature of AA, an autoimmune disorder affecting 1%-2% of the U.S. population, characterized by hair loss and psychological impact.

research Neuroimmunology of Stress: Skin Takes Center Stage

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Stress can worsen skin and hair conditions by affecting the skin's immune response and hormone levels.

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research Alopecia Areata: A Tissue-Specific Autoimmune Disease of the Hair Follicle

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research Mast Cell Deficient and Neurokinin-1 Receptor Knockout Mice Are Protected from Stress-Induced Hair Growth Inhibition

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Certain mice without specific receptors or mast cells don't lose hair from stress.

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research Restoration of Hair Growth in Mice with an Alopecia Areata-Like Disease Using Topical Anthralin

29 citations, January 2004 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Topical anthralin helped regrow hair in mice with a condition similar to human alopecia.

research Restoration of Hair Growth with Topical Diphenylcyclopropenone in Mouse and Rat Models of Alopecia Areata

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Topical diphencyprone helped regrow hair in mice and rats with a condition similar to human hair loss.

research The Pattern and Profile of Alopecia Areata in Singapore: A Study of 219 Asians

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Alopecia areata mainly affects young people and has significant psychological impacts, especially in males.

research Role of Cytotoxic T Cells in Chronic Alopecia Areata

127 citations, January 2000 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Cytotoxic T cells cause hair loss in chronic alopecia areata.

research Experimental Induction of Alopecia Areata-Like Hair Loss in C3H/HeJ Mice Using Full-Thickness Skin Grafts

131 citations, November 1998 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Skin grafts on mice can cause an immune response leading to hair loss, useful for studying human hair loss conditions.

research The Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata

89 citations, October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

Alopecia areata is likely caused by a combination of genetic factors and immune system dysfunction, and may represent different diseases with various causes.

research Histopathology of Non-Scarring Alopecia

122 citations, April 1995 in “Journal of Cutaneous Pathology”

The document describes how to tell different types of non-scarring hair loss apart by looking at hair and scalp tissue under a microscope.

Related Research

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research Alopecia Areata: A Multifactorial Autoimmune Condition

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Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.

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Alopecia areata can sometimes appear as a straight line of hair loss instead of round patches.

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research The Role of Hair Follicle Immune Privilege Collapse in Alopecia Areata: Status and Perspectives

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The document explored the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA) as an autoimmune disease mediated by CD8+T cells, emphasizing the collapse of hair follicle immune privilege (HF-IP) as a crucial factor. It identified natural killer group 2D-positive (NKG2D+) cells and their ligands as significant contributors to HF-IP collapse and AA phenotype induction. The study suggested that therapeutic strategies should focus on restoring HF-IP and modulating immune responses, potentially involving nonspecific suppression of the HF response to inflammatory stimuli. It also noted the potential roles of IFN-γ, substance P, and mast cells in AA development, proposing that effective management might require a broader approach beyond targeting specific autoantigens and T cells.