Osteopontin: A New Facilitating Factor in Alopecia Areata Pathogenesis?

The study investigated the role of osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional glycophosphoprotein, in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA), a non-scarring hair loss condition with an autoimmune basis. Researchers measured plasma OPN levels in AA patients before and after treatment with diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP). They found that OPN levels were higher in AA patients compared to healthy controls. However, patients who achieved complete recovery after DPCP treatment did not exhibit a statistically significant reduction in OPN levels, suggesting that while OPN might be involved in AA pathogenesis, its levels did not correlate with treatment success.