Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata and Vitiligo: Commonalities and Differences

April 2024 in “ International journal of molecular sciences ”

Hitoshi Yamaguchi, Yuji Yamaguchi, Elena Peeva

alopecia areata vitiligo CD8+ T lymphocytes IFN-γ signaling immune privilege hair follicles immune cells stress proteins melanocytes oxidative stress genetic factors chemokines CXCL9 CXCL10 AA

Studysummary This study examines the similarities and differences in the pathogenesis of autoimmune conditions alopecia areata and vitiligo, highlighting shared features like immune cell involvement and cytokine pathways, while noting differing immune responses in skin and hair. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document explores the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo, highlighting both commonalities and differences. Both are autoimmune diseases involving CD8+ T lymphocytes and elevated IFN-γ signaling. AA is characterized by immune privilege collapse in hair follicles, leading to their targeting by immune cells, while vitiligo involves stress proteins that activate immune responses against melanocytes. Shared mechanisms include oxidative stress, genetic factors, and elevated chemokines like CXCL9 and CXCL10. Despite these similarities, distinct pathways and cellular targets differentiate their pathogenesis, emphasizing the need for targeted treatments.

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research European Expert Consensus Statement on the Systemic Treatment of Alopecia Areata

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research Involvement of ILC1-Like Innate Lymphocytes in Human Autoimmunity: Lessons from Alopecia Areata

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This study indicates that innate lymphoid cells-type 1 may provoke alopecia areata by disrupting hair follicle immune privilege and inducing characteristic lesions, challenging the view that alopecia areata is purely an autoantigen-dependent, T cell-driven condition.

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55 citations , October 2019 in “The journal of allergy and clinical immunology/Journal of allergy and clinical immunology/The journal of allergy and clinical immunology”

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74 citations , May 2016 in “Current opinion in pediatrics, with evaluated MEDLINE/Current opinion in pediatrics”

This review identifies shared interferon gamma-driven immune pathways in vitiligo and alopecia areata, revealing potential targets for new treatments, but reports no clinical results.

research Assessment of Tissue Levels of Dickkopf-1 in Androgenetic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata

10 citations , July 2015 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

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research Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Alopecia Areata: Missing Link?

45 citations , December 2014 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study found that plasmacytoid dendritic cells are central to the pathogenesis of alopecia areata, suggesting they may help differentiate it from trichotillomania and androgenetic alopecia.

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701 citations , August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

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