In this study, researchers found that CD4 T cells from the skin draining lymph nodes of mice with alopecia areata can transfer the disease to recipient mice, highlighting the key role of these cells and their interaction with CD8 T cells in the disease's development.
October 2025 in “Science Advances” In this study, researchers demonstrated that CD4 T cells from skin-draining lymph nodes in mice with alopecia areata can transfer the disease to recipient mice, revealing a critical role for CD4 T cells in disease development and suggesting potential therapeutic targets.
1 citations
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May 2022 in “Frontiers in Pharmacology” This study found that astilbin downregulates effector CD4+ T cell activities through the CYP1B1/ROS/PPARγ pathway, suggesting its potential use in treating inflammation.
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.
1 citations
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June 2020 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” In this study, researchers identified unique prenatal lymphocyte features in human fetal skin, including proliferative naive T cells and memory-like T cells, which may influence antigen and allergen responses in utero and infancy.
June 2023 in “Research Square (Research Square)” This study identified shared gene expression changes and immune cell infiltration patterns that may contribute to hair loss in alopecia areata and cutaneous lupus erythematosus, but also highlighted factors that might preserve hair in psoriasis patients.
November 2025 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Dithranol reduces inflammation in alopecia areata by lowering certain immune responses.
21 citations
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December 2005 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This study demonstrates that T-cell responses in extensive alopecia areata scalp may be aberrantly regulated, with reduced cytokine production but activated phenotype, providing insight into the disease's immune mechanisms.
6 citations
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April 2017 in “Experimental dermatology” This study found that B6.CD80CD86−/− mice developed autoimmune-like alopecia with nearly 100% incidence by 40 weeks, making them a promising model for studying human alopecia areata.
278 citations
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March 2013 in “Gut” In this study, nearly 5% of anti-TNF-treated patients with IBD developed psoriasiform skin lesions, with smoking identified as a main risk factor, and ustekinumab proved highly effective in severe cases.
64 citations
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July 2016 in “Journal of Immunology” In this study, blocking the CXCR3 receptor in mice prevented the development of alopecia areata by inhibiting the accumulation of specific T cells in the skin, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for humans.
29 citations
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February 2018 in “European Journal of Immunology” In this study, Treg depletion impaired skin wound healing in mice, potentially by altering the cytokine environment and expanding certain T-cell populations, disrupting the normal healing process.
71 citations
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May 2019 in “Rheumatology” This study observed that PD-1+CXCR5-CD4+T peripheral helper cells are significantly elevated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and are correlated with disease activity indicators, suggesting their potential role in lupus pathogenesis.
12 citations
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March 2016 in “BBA clinical” This study found that intracellular Toll-like receptors were significantly up-regulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of alopecia areata patients, suggesting a potential role in inflammatory signaling and pathogenesis.
April 2021 in “Sohag Medical Journal” This review outlines the proposed theories behind the development of alopecia areata, emphasizing the autoimmune process involving lost immune privilege in hair follicles, and stresses the need to pinpoint specific pathogenic mechanisms for potential treatments.
1 citations
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January 2025 in “Genes & Diseases” This review highlights that T cells are crucial in regulating hair follicle regeneration and their disruption can lead to alopecia, providing insights into hair disorders related to T cell immune balance and hair follicle regeneration.
31 citations
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February 2014 in “Inflammation Research” This study found that reduced expression of CD200R1 on monocyte-derived macrophages in rheumatoid arthritis patients was significantly associated with higher disease severity and an imbalance in Th17/Treg cells.
January 2024 in “Inflammation and regeneration” This study identified Th22 cells as key effectors in hair regeneration driven by thymosin beta 15, suggesting they could be potential targets for hair regrowth therapies.
30 citations
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May 2016 in “Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy” This review discusses immune pathways involved in alopecia areata and explores emerging, more targeted therapeutic strategies, noting their potential for better safety and effectiveness compared to traditional immune suppressants.
20 citations
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November 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” This study found that IFN-γ plays a critical role in T cell activation and the pathogenesis of alopecia areata in C3H/HeJ mice.
January 2026 in “Scientific Reports” In this study, researchers identified 19 genetic risk loci and highlighted 16 candidate causal genes, including immune-related ones, associated with polycystic ovary syndrome, emphasizing the role of specific immune cells like T cells and NK cells in its pathogenesis.
69 citations
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February 2008 in “The American journal of pathology” This study found that local injections of interleukin-4 and neutralizing anti-interferon-γ antibody effectively treated alopecia in a mouse model, suggesting potential therapeutic pathways for human alopecia areata.
16 citations
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April 2024 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” This study found that selectively targeting HDAC4 and HDAC7 in mice can reduce Th17 cell-mediated intestinal inflammation, suggesting a potential treatment approach for Th17-related inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis.
11 citations
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September 2023 in “Nature Communications” In this study, researchers found that the cell surface protein Lrig1 plays a crucial role in regulating the suppressive function of regulatory T cells, suggesting it as a potential target for treating autoimmune diseases, as evidenced by experiments in mouse models.
January 2025 in “American Journal of Translational Research” In this study, Erianin was found to significantly suppress alopecia areata in a mouse model by inhibiting effector T cell function, reversing systemic symptoms, and promoting hair growth.
April 2023 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Contact immunotherapy can change immune responses in alopecia areata, suggesting new treatment targets.
25 citations
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November 2020 in “Cell Reports Medicine” Developing human skin has immune cells with memory-like features.
August 2024 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” The study investigated immune cell patterns around the hair follicle infundibulum in androgenetic alopecia, revealing significant differences in immune signatures between patients with AGA and control donors, specifically noting an enrichment of CD4 cells in the patient group.
3 citations
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September 2025 in “Frontiers in Immunology” This review discusses the complex role of immune disturbances and the JAK-STAT pathway in alopecia areata, noting the success of JAK inhibitors in treatment, while highlighting ongoing debates and challenges in targeting other pathways like IL-17 and TNF-α.
June 2024 in “Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology” In this study, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) induced IL-4/IL-13 from T cells, prompting sebum secretion and adipose loss, suggesting IL-4/IL-13 may affect skin barrier function in atopic dermatitis.