AA is an autoimmune disease involving the hair follicle1,2
AA is an autoimmune disease involving the hair follicle1,2
AA pathophysiology involves multiple immune effector cells including CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells3-5
These immune cells infiltrate in and around the hair bulb in a pattern called the “swarm of bees,” releasing inflammatory cytokines6
Inflammatory cytokines contribute to a cycle of sustained inflammation at the hair follicle that may lead to hair loss2,7
There are many emerging pathways of interest in AA for researchers7-10*
Janus kinase (JAK) signaling is one of the pathways involved in the immune-pathogenesis of AA2,7,11
CD8+=cluster of differentiation 8 positive.
*Emerging pathways of interest include: Gamma chain cytokine expression and immune privilege collapse, JAK and TEC-dependent cytolytic function, altered interleukin expression, Toll-like receptor polymorphisms and expression.7-10
References: 1. Meah N, Wall D, York K, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;83(1):123-130. 2. Divito SJ, Kupper TS. Nat Med. 2014;20(9):989-990. 3. Ito T. Clin Dev Immunol. 2013;2013:348546. 4. Bertolini M, Zilio F, Rossi A, et al. PLoS One. 2014;9(5):e94260. 5. Gilhar A, Laufer-Britva R, Keren A, Paus R. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019;144(6):1478-1489. 6. Darwin E, Hirt PA, Fertig R, Doliner B, Delcanto G, Jimenez JJ. Int J Trichology. 2018;10(2):51-60. 7. Triyangkulsri K, Suchonwanit P. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2018;12:2323-2335. 8. Xu H, Jesson MI, Seneviratne UI, et al. ACS Chem Biol. 2019;14(6):1235-1242. 9. Alzolibani AA, Rasheed Z, Bin Saif G, Al-Dhubaibi MS, Al Robaee AA. BBA Clin. 2016;5:134-142. 10. Seok H, Suh DW, Jo B, et al. Autoimmunity. 2014;47(6):372-377. 11. Renert-Yuval Y, Guttman-Yassky E. Adv Ther. 2017;34:1594-1609.
