Trichohyalin is a Potential Major Autoantigen in Human Alopecia Areata

This study provided evidence supporting the autoimmune basis of alopecia areata (AA) by identifying trichohyalin as a potential major autoantigen involved in its pathogenesis. Using serum antibodies from 10 AA patients, researchers isolated AA-reactive hair follicle-specific antigens and found strong reactivity to trichohyalin, a hair growth phase-specific structural protein, in all AA sera. Keratin 16 (K16) was also identified as another potential target antigen. The findings suggested that an immune response to these anagen-specific hair follicle antigens, particularly trichohyalin and K16, might play a role in the development of AA.