March 2005 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Higher levels of IL-1a and IL-1RA were found in severe alopecia areata cases.
December 2020 in “Journal of Endocrinology and Reproduction” This study identified significant differences in cytokine levels between people with primary cicatricial alopecias and unaffected individuals, suggesting cytokines may play a role in the condition's autoimmune nature and management.
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August 2015 in “The journal of allergy and clinical immunology/Journal of allergy and clinical immunology/The journal of allergy and clinical immunology” This study identified a distinct cytokine activation signature in alopecia areata, involving TH2, TH1, IL-23, and IL-9/TH9 pathways, suggesting potential targeting strategies similar to those in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
February 2021 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study found that specific junctional proteins are significantly downregulated in balding regions of the scalp in men with androgenetic alopecia, suggesting disrupted cell communication may play a role in hair loss.
September 2025 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This review reports on the potential for deucravacitinib, an oral TYK2 inhibitor approved for psoriasis, to treat various immune-mediated diseases, with emerging research suggesting possible uses in neurodegenerative diseases and certain cancers.