Resident T Cell Activation Leads to Human Hair Follicle Immune Privilege Loss Ex Vivo, Prevented by DHODH Inhibitor Farudodstat: Relevance for Alopecia Areata
April 2026
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Studysummary In this study, the researchers used a human hair follicle model to demonstrate that T cell stimulation can induce an alopecia areata–like phenotype, with cell proliferation and immune privilege collapse; however, the DHODH inhibitor farudodstat partially mitigated these effects by reducing T cell proliferation.
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This study explores the role of resident T cell activation in the loss of immune privilege in human hair follicles, which is linked to alopecia areata (AA). Using an ex vivo model with hair follicles from 7 healthy donors, researchers found that T cell activation led to immune privilege collapse, marked by increased MHC class I and II expression. The DHODH inhibitor farudodstat was shown to reduce T cell proliferation and MHC expression, partially preventing this collapse. These findings suggest that farudodstat could be a promising therapeutic candidate for AA by targeting T cell proliferation and preserving hair follicle immune privilege.
