TLDR Enhancing regulatory T cells may help treat autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata.
The document discussed the role of regulatory T cells in autoimmune diseases, particularly alopecia areata (AA), where hair follicles are attacked by CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. It highlighted the importance of regulatory cell subsets, such as CD4+/CD25+ cells, in maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmunity. In the C3H/HeJ mouse model, a reduction in these regulatory cells was linked to AA susceptibility. In humans, an increase in CD4+/CD25+ cells was observed during active AA, but these cells showed impaired regulatory function. The study suggested that enhancing the function of regulatory T cells and reducing apoptosis resistance in pathogenic cells could be potential therapeutic strategies for AA.
38 citations
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September 2004 in “Journal of Autoimmunity” Alopecia areata patients have more activated T cells in their blood, which may help in developing treatments.
77 citations
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June 2002 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” CD44 variant changes start alopecia areata, but don't maintain it.
4 citations
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October 2022 in “Genes” Our microbiome may affect the development of the hair loss condition Alopecia Areata, but more research is needed to understand this relationship.
1 citations
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January 2025 in “Genes & Diseases” Understanding T cells and signaling pathways can lead to better treatments for hair loss.
60 citations
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September 2015 in “Expert Review of Clinical Immunology” Lymphocytes, especially CD8+ T cells, play a key role in causing alopecia areata, and targeting them may lead to new treatments.
62 citations
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June 2015 in “The Journal of Dermatology” People with alopecia areata have more Th17 cells and fewer Treg cells, which may be key to the condition's development.
134 citations
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July 2020 in “Experimental dermatology” Hair follicles are normally protected from the immune system, but when this protection fails, it can cause hair loss in alopecia areata.
