The Possible Role of PTEN-Induced Kinase 1-Mediated Mitophagy in Regulating Inflammasome Activation in the Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata
TLDR Activating mitophagy may help manage a key immune response involved in the hair loss condition alopecia areata.
This study investigates the role of PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)-mediated mitophagy in regulating inflammasome activation in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA). The researchers found mitochondrial DNA damage and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in AA-affected scalp tissues and treated outer root sheath (ORS) cells. Inducing mitophagy alleviated NLRP3 inflammasome activation caused by IFNγ and poly(I:C) treatments in ORS cells. Conversely, PINK1 knockdown increased NLRP3 inflammasome activation, highlighting the critical role of PINK1-mediated mitophagy. The study suggests that targeting mitophagy factors to regulate mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibit inflammasome activation could be a novel therapeutic approach for AA.
