Highlights d Assessed HIV Env-reactive peripheral blood plasmablast response post-vaccination d Boosting with AIDSVAX B/E protein induced robust plasmablast responses d Env-specific repertoire was dominated by VH1 gene usage and V3-region targeting Abs d Plasmablast-derived lineages persisted in bone marrow CD138 + long-lived plasma cells

No abstract

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in skin immunity. Deficiencies in Vitamin A have been linked to impaired immune response and increased susceptibility to skin infections and inflammatory skin disease. This narrative review summarizes recent primary evidence that elucidates the role of vitamin A and its derivatives on innate immune regulators through mechanisms that promote skin immunity and sustain the skin microbiome.

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a scarring alopecia that primarily affects women of African descent. Although histopathological features of CCCA have been described, the pathophysiology of this disease remains unclear. To better understand the components of CCCA pathophysiology, we evaluated the composition of the inflammatory infiltrate, the distribution of Langerhans cells (LCs), and the relationship between fibrosis and perifollicular vessel distribution. Our data indicate that CCCA is associated with a CD4-predominant T-cell infiltrate with increased LCs extending into the lower hair follicle. Fibroplasia associated with follicular scarring displaces blood vessels away from the outer root sheath epithelium. These data indicate that CCCA is an inflammatory scarring alopecia with unique pathophysiologic features that differentiate it from other lymphocytic scarring processes.

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a common cause of hair loss among patients of African and/or Caribbean descent, and there is little data exploring the quality of life of patients with this condition. This pilot demonstrates that CCCA has a significant impact on overall quality of life, and patients may benefit from resources to address psychosocial aspects of this diagnosis.

No abstract

Funding sources: None. Conflicts of interest: None disclosed. IRB approval status: Reviewed and approved by the University of Pennsylvania IRB (834059).

The published work suggests a higher risk for anxiety and depression among patients with alopecia areata (AA), 1 but less is known about central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), a primary scarring alopecia. CCCA occurs predominantly in black women, with a prevalence of 2.7-5.7%. 2 In a previous study, CCCA was strongly associated with low quality of life. 3 However, the psychiatric comorbidity burden among patients with CCCA has not been explored. We aimed to assess the risk of comorbid depression and anxiety among black female patients with CCCA compared with patients with AA and psoriasis. In this cross-sectional study, the medical records of black female patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of CCCA, psoriasis or alopecia areata seen in the Dermatology Department of Perelman School of Medicine between July 2017 and July 2019 were reviewed. This study received an exemption from the institutional review board of the University of Pennsylvania. International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes included L40.0 (psoriasis vulgaris), L66.9 (CCCA), L63.9 (AA), F32.1 (major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate), F32.2 (major depressive disorder, single episode), F33.0 (major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild), F33.1 (major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate), F32.2 (major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe) and F41.1 (generalized anxiety disorder). Data was collected on patient demographics, and patients with a concomitant diagnosis of anxiety or depression were identified. Descriptive statistics were calculated, P-values were calculated using a two-tailed v 2-test with Yates' correction, and odds ratios were calculated with 95% confidence intervals by Stata version 16 software (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA). There were a total of 270 black women with a diagnosis of CCCA. Of these, 27 (10.0%) had a diagnosis of anxiety or depression in their medical records. In the same period, 84 black women with psoriasis and 69 black women with AA were identified. In these groups, anxiety or depression was accounted for in 10 (11.9%) patients with AA, alopecia areata; CI, confidence interval; CCCA, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia; OR, odds ratio.