Imbalance of T‐helper 17 and regulatory T cells in patients with alopecia areata

Abstract

There is mounting evidence that T helper (Th)17 cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) play parts in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Hence, levels of these T-cell subsets in patients with alopecia areata (AA) merit investigation. Our goal was to assess Th17 and Treg levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and scalp lesions of patients with AA, correlating the findings with clinical characteristics. PBMC of 177 patients with AA (test group) and 42 healthy controls and scalp tissues of 33 patients and 15 healthy controls were collected. Levels of Th17 and Treg subsets were then determined via flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining, correlating results in test subjects with clinical features of AA. Th17 levels were significantly higher in patients, whereas Treg levels were lower by comparison. Furthermore, Th17 levels in patients with disease of short duration or in the active phase were significantly higher, relative to their respective counterparts. Th17 levels also negatively correlated with disease duration. While Treg levels were higher in severe AA than in mild AA. Results of lesions were parallel to findings of PBMC. Our data indicates an imbalance in the immune state of patients with AA.

Three hundred and eight nanometer excimer light therapy for alopecia universalis that is resistant to other treatments: A clinical study of 11 patients

“…11 IL-17 + cells are found around hair follicles, and significantly elevated circulating IL-17 levels and lower percentages of regulatory T cells (Treg) are seen in patients with AA. 12 Byun et al compared the effects of excimer laser treatment between the treated and untreated sides of an alopecic patch. However, only hair diameter was found to be significantly higher in the treated half, as improvements were seen on the control side as well.…”

“…The mean age of the patients was 45.7 AE 16.9 years (range, 24-66) and the mean disease duration was 9.3 AE 8.1 years (range, 1-22). The treatments administrated to the patients included topical steroids (mean, 25 months; range, 3-60), infrared therapy (mean, 15.8 months; range, 9-30), topical immunotherapy (mean, 15.4 months; range, 7-29), corticosteroid pulse therapy and cryotherapy (mean, 11 months; range, [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. In all cases, hair loss that extended beyond the scalp was used to confirm the diagnosis of AU.…”

Alopecia areata: Animal models illuminate autoimmune pathogenesis and novel immunotherapeutic strategies

“…Besides CD8+ and/or NKG2D+ cells, the role of additional immunocytes the immunopathology of AA has recently come under scrutiny, namely, that of regulatory T cells [45,46] and of perifollicular mast cells interacting with CD8+ T cells [47] (Fig. 2: AA pathobiology)(see Supplementary texts 3).…”

New Modalities in the Treatment of Refractory Alopecia Areata

“…IL-2 is a key cytokine for T regulatory (reg) cell differentiation, homeostasis and functions [124]. In AA, an imbalance in the immune state of patients has been detected with altered T-helper cell and Treg cell functions [125,126]. A study by Shin et al revealed impaired function of CD4 T reg cells [127].…”