Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1999 Dec;4(3):207-10.
doi: 10.1038/sj.jidsp.5640212.

Alopecia areata is a T-lymphocyte mediated autoimmune disease: lesional human T-lymphocytes transfer alopecia areata to human skin grafts on SCID mice

Affiliations
Free article

Alopecia areata is a T-lymphocyte mediated autoimmune disease: lesional human T-lymphocytes transfer alopecia areata to human skin grafts on SCID mice

A Gilhar et al. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 1999 Dec.
Free article

Abstract

Much evidence suggests that alopecia areata is a tissue restricted autoimmune disease. Alopecia areata responds to immunosuppressive agents, and is associated with other tissue restricted autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune thyroiditis and vitiligo. Furthermore, hair regrows when involved scalp is transplanted to nude mice. This study was undertaken to determine whether alopecia areata is mediated by T lymphocytes. Involved scalp from alopecia areata patients was grafted onto SCID mice. Additional biopsies from lesional scalp of the same patients were used to isolate T lymphocytes. These T lymphocytes were cultured with hair follicle homogenate, as well as autologous antigen presenting cells. The T lymphocytes were then injected into autologous scalp grafts on the SCID mice, which had regrown hair. Injection of scalp T lymphocytes resulted in hair loss. Hair loss was associated with the histologic and immunochemical changes of alopecia areata, including perifollicular infiltrates of T cells, along with HLA-DR and ICAM-1 expression by the follicular epithelium. Scalp T lymphocytes that had not been cultured with hair follicle homogenate did not have this effect. Preliminary data suggests hair loss requires a collaboration between CD8+ and CD4+T cells. These studies have demonstrated that alopecia areata can be induced by the transfer of T cells that recognize a hair follicle autoantigen.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types