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CD44 expression in alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia
M E Sawaya1, H Bakshandeh, M K Hordinsky
1Department of Medicine/Division of Dermatology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0277.
Insights
CD44 cell surface protein expression is absent in alopecia areata scalp. This finding may offer new insights into the pathogenesis of this hair loss condition.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- CD44 is a cell surface protein crucial for immune cell function and adhesion.
- In normal skin, CD44 is primarily located in eccrine coil cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate CD44 expression in normal scalp, androgenetic alopecia, and alopecia areata.
- To explore the potential role of CD44 in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of CD44 expression in scalp biopsies.
- Comparison of CD44 distribution in healthy controls and patients with hair disorders.
Main Results:
- CD44 was present in eccrine coil cells of normal scalp and androgenetic alopecia.
- Complete absence of CD44 expression was observed in the scalp of 30 alopecia areata patients.
- Two alopecia areata patients showed CD44 expression post-treatment, suggesting variable disease expression.
Conclusions:
- The absence of CD44 in alopecia areata scalp suggests its involvement in the disease's pathogenesis.
- Variable CD44 expression in alopecia areata warrants further investigation into the disease process.
Abstract:
CD44 is a widely distributed cell surface protein thought to be involved in multiple steps of normal immune cell function, including T-cell activation, and in cellular adhesion where it mediates cell attachment to hyaluronate. In normal skin, CD44 is found by immunohistochemical means to be primarily in eccrine coil cells. In this study, we have looked at the expression of CD44 in normal scalp and in two different hair disorders, androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. In normal scalp and androgenetic alopecia, CD44 was found in its normal distribution in eccrine coil cells. In scalp of 30 patients with alopecia areata, there was no expression of this glycoprotein. Patients were also assessed pre and post treatment for their alopecia areata, and even though they had no significant hair regrowth, 2 patients regained expression of CD44, indicating a variable expression of this protein in the alopecia areata disease process. The absence of CD44 expression in alopecia areata-affected scalp may give further information regarding the pathogenesis of this disease.