{"title":"Hair Follicle Melanocytes Initiate Autoimmunity in Alopecia Areata: a Trigger Point.","authors":"Bo Xie, Jiayi Sun, Xiuzu Song","doi":"10.1007/s12016-022-08954-w","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by common non-scarring alopecia due to autoimmune disorders. To date, the specific pathogenesis underlying AA remains unknown. Thus, AA treatment in the dermatological clinic is still a challenge. Numerous clinical observations and experimental studies have established that melanocytes may be the trigger point that causes hair follicles to be attacked by the immune system. A possible mechanism is that the impaired melanocytes, under oxidative stress, cannot be repaired in time and causes apoptosis. Melanocyte-associated autoantigens are released and presented, inducing CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell attacks. Thereafter, amplification of the immune responses further spreads to the entire hair follicle (HF). The immune privilege of HF subsequently collapses, leading to AA. Herein, we present a narrative review on the roles of melanocytes in AA pathogenesis, aiming to provide a better understanding of this disease from the melanocyte's perspective.</p>","PeriodicalId":10423,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.4000,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"7","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-022-08954-w","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2022/9/19 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ALLERGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 7
Abstract
Alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by common non-scarring alopecia due to autoimmune disorders. To date, the specific pathogenesis underlying AA remains unknown. Thus, AA treatment in the dermatological clinic is still a challenge. Numerous clinical observations and experimental studies have established that melanocytes may be the trigger point that causes hair follicles to be attacked by the immune system. A possible mechanism is that the impaired melanocytes, under oxidative stress, cannot be repaired in time and causes apoptosis. Melanocyte-associated autoantigens are released and presented, inducing CD8+ T cell attacks. Thereafter, amplification of the immune responses further spreads to the entire hair follicle (HF). The immune privilege of HF subsequently collapses, leading to AA. Herein, we present a narrative review on the roles of melanocytes in AA pathogenesis, aiming to provide a better understanding of this disease from the melanocyte's perspective.
期刊介绍:
Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology is a scholarly journal that focuses on the advancement of clinical management in allergic and immunologic diseases. The journal publishes both scholarly reviews and experimental papers that address the current state of managing these diseases, placing new data into perspective. Each issue of the journal is dedicated to a specific theme of critical importance to allergists and immunologists, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter for a wide readership.
The journal is particularly helpful in explaining how novel data impacts clinical management, along with advancements such as standardized protocols for allergy skin testing and challenge procedures, as well as improved understanding of cell biology. Ultimately, the journal aims to contribute to the improvement of care and management for patients with immune-mediated diseases.