November 2025 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” BTNL2 helps protect hair follicles from immune attacks.
January 2006 in “Linchuang pifuke zazhi” This study found that stem cell factor combined with fibronectin and type IV collagen promotes migration of amelanotic melanocytes, which may help explain their movement during vitiligo repigmentation.
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December 2007 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study suggests that human hair follicles may actively suppress natural killer cells, which contrasts with the observed defects in NK cell regulation in alopecia areata.
May 2025 in “Journal of the Egyptian Womenʼs Dermatologic Society” This study found that immune privilege is preserved in hair follicles of nonsegmental vitiligo patients compared to those with alopecia areata, potentially protecting follicular melanocytes from autoimmune attacks.
April 2024 in “Frontiers in physiology” This review article examines recent studies on the role of diverse immune cells in forming an active niche for hair follicles, offering new insights into hair growth and related diseases.