Scalp bacterial shift in Alopecia areata

Abstract

The role of microbial dysbiosis in scalp disease has been recently hypothesized. However, little information is available with regards to the association between microbial population on the scalp and hair diseases related to hair growth. Here we investigated bacterial communities in healthy and Alopecia areata (AA) subjects. The analysis of bacterial distribution at the genus level highlighted an increase of Propionibacterium in AA subjects alongside a general decrease of Staphylococcus . Analysis of log Relative abundance of main bacterial species inhabiting the scalp showed a significant increase of Propionibacterium acnes in AA subjects compared to control ones. AA scalp condition is also associated with a significant decrease of Staphylococcus epidermidis relative abundance. No significant changes were found for Staphylococcus aureus . Therefore, data from sequencing profiling of the bacterial population strongly support a different microbial composition of the different area surrounded hair follicle from the epidermis to hypodermis, highlighting differences between normal and AA affected the scalp. Our results highlight, for the first time, the presence of a microbial shift on the scalp of patients suffering from AA and gives the basis for a larger and more complete study of microbial population involvement in hair disorders.

Efficacy of Postbiotics in a PRP-Like Cosmetic Product for the Treatment of Alopecia Area Celsi: A Randomized Double-Blinded Parallel-Group Study

“…In an earlier study on microbial dysbiosis on the scalp of AA subjects, we hypothesized a correlation between the presence of some microbial strains in the perifollicular region of AA subjects and hypoxia [18]. This hypothesis has led to novel therapeutic approaches aimed at resolving microbial dysbiosis, including via oxygenation.…”

“…These peptides mimic the activities of platelet growth factors, have an efficacy similar to PRP treatment and can be easily included in a topical [16,17] or, in the near future, injectable formulation. More recently, the involvement of microbiota has been reported in hair growth disorders, in AA in particular [18][19][20], and the usefulness of microbial metabolites, referred to as postbiotics, has been suggested [21].…”

27TH Fondation René Touraine Annual SCIENTIFIC MEETING 2019

“…[91] Gata6 may also be implicated in the But let us close where we started, that is with an evolutionary perspective. Even though mammalian skin appendages have coevolved with complex microbiota that long predated the evolution of the former, and even though the management of bacterial and fungal HF infections (nonsterile folliculitis) has long been a staple of daily dermatological practice, only recently have we begun to ask ourselves in earnest which impact exactly the rich microbiome of the HF and SG in health and disease [17,20,[92][93][94] actually has on skin ap- Even though we do not know yet whether such a complex interaction system, which must result from very old evo-devo and co-evolution processes, is also established in human skin, one cannot help but to marvel at its ingenuity-and the central role that the "adnexal skin unit" [31] may play in a human equivalent system likely to exist also in our integument.…”

‘Omics’ Approaches for Studying the Microbiome in Alopecia Areata

“…17 Therefore, microbial dysbiosis has been deeply investigated in subjects affected by AA. 18 Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus have been reported as the main genera involved in microbial shift and a different microbial composition between healthy and AA affected subjects have also been reported at the different area surrounding hair follicle. 18 Understanding the role of the microbial population inhabiting the human body, including the scalp, remain a challenge but the advent of novel technologies as the effort of many research groups on microbiome field could provide in the nearest future a clearest framework about the strict relationship between human healthiness and symbiotic microorganism resident on the different ecosystem of our body.…”

“…18 Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus have been reported as the main genera involved in microbial shift and a different microbial composition between healthy and AA affected subjects have also been reported at the different area surrounding hair follicle. 18 Understanding the role of the microbial population inhabiting the human body, including the scalp, remain a challenge but the advent of novel technologies as the effort of many research groups on microbiome field could provide in the nearest future a clearest framework about the strict relationship between human healthiness and symbiotic microorganism resident on the different ecosystem of our body. Indeed, the use of omics techniques, especially metatranscriptomic, can help in the deep understanding the changes in microbiota composition related to hair growth disease such as AA and how these changes impact on different pathways and biological mechanisms related or not related to the disease pathophysiology.…”