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Mechanical and Controlled PRP Injections in Patients Affected by Androgenetic Alopecia
Published on: January 27, 2018
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Regulatory T-cells in alopecia areata
Jodi J Speiser1, Dana Mondo1, Vikas Mehta1
1Department of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois.
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
|April 17, 2019
Summary
Alopecia areata (AA) shows a significant reduction in regulatory T cells (Treg), which are crucial for immune privilege in the skin. This finding highlights potential new avenues for treating AA and other skin diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunodermatology
- Cutaneous Immunology
- Autoimmune Diseases
Background:
- Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition targeting hair follicles via CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes.
- Regulatory T cells (Treg) are integral to immune privilege in cutaneous diseases, as observed in vitiligo studies.
- This study investigates Treg percentages in AA using immunohistochemical staining of human tissue specimens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the percentage of CD4+ FoxP3+, CD25+ FoxP3+, and CD8+ FoxP3+ Treg cells in alopecia areata specimens.
- To compare Treg cell frequencies in AA with those in other autoimmune and non-autoimmune cutaneous diseases.
- To assess the utility of immunohistochemical staining for evaluating Treg cells in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin tissues.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical double staining was performed on 12 AA cases and 12 controls.
- The frequency of CD4+ FoxP3+, CD25+ FoxP3+, and CD8+ FoxP3+ Treg cells was quantified.
- Treg cell frequency was expressed as a percentage of total CD4+, CD25+, and CD8+ lymphocytes to normalize for inflammatory variability.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in the mean frequency of CD4+ FoxP3+ and CD25+ FoxP3+ Treg cells was observed in AA patients.
- The reduction in specific Treg populations was statistically significant when compared to control groups.
- CD8+ FoxP3+ Treg cell frequencies were also analyzed, though the primary significant findings related to CD4+ and CD25+ populations.
Conclusions:
- Treg cells are significantly diminished in alopecia areata compared to other cutaneous diseases.
- The employed immunohistochemical staining protocol is effective for assessing Treg cells in FFPE skin specimens.
- Findings suggest potential therapeutic implications for Treg modulation in AA and related skin conditions.
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