701 citations
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August 2014 in “Nature medicine” This study found that JAK inhibitors promote hair regrowth in both mice and human alopecia areata cases by blocking key immune pathways involved in disease development.
18 citations
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January 2017 in “Annals of dermatology/Annals of Dermatology” This study found that Th17 lymphocytes may play a more crucial role than cytotoxic T cells in the development of alopecia areata due to their infiltration around the hair bulb/bulge, which exacerbates hair loss as histopathological grade worsens.
60 citations
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September 2015 in “Expert Review of Clinical Immunology” This study suggests that CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes play a crucial role in the development of alopecia areata, based on observations in rodent models that mimic human autoimmune disease.
April 2023 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This research explored the roles of various T cell types in chronic alopecia areata, finding that increased severity of lesions and hair loss may be linked to decreased lesional Foxp3+ Tregs, with a notable role for IL-17 and Th17 lymphocytes in the pathological process.
November 2025 in “The Journal of Immunology” This study observed that in human scalp hair follicles, BTNL2 expression is lower in stressed conditions, which correlates with increased cytotoxic activity by gamma/delta and CD8+ T cells, suggesting a possible role for BTNL2 in controlling immune responses relevant to alopecia areata.