Analysing the Dynamics of a Model for Alopecia Areata as an Autoimmune Disorder of Hair Follicle Cycling

June 2017 in “ Mathematical Medicine and Biology A Journal of the IMA ”

A Dobréva, Ralf Paus, N. G. Cogan

alopecia areata autoimmune disorder CD8+ T cells hair follicles anagen phase catagen phase proliferation apoptosis stem cell input AA immune cells HFs hair growth cycle

TLDR The model helps understand and improve treatments for alopecia areata by simulating hair growth and immune cell interactions.

The document presented a mathematical model for alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disorder where CD8$^{+}$ T cells attack hair follicles (HFs) during the anagen phase, causing premature transition to catagen and shortening hair growth. The model integrated the dynamics of autoreactive immune cells with hair cycle equations to depict health, disease, and treatment states, and transitions between them. Parameter sensitivity analysis was conducted to understand the impact of processes like proliferation, apoptosis, and stem cell input on anagen duration in both healthy and AA-affected HFs. This model aimed to aid in evaluating current treatments and identifying new therapeutic targets.

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