Hair Follicle Immune Privilege Revisited: The Key to Alopecia Areata Management

J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2018 Jan;19(1):S12-S17. doi: 10.1016/j.jisp.2017.10.014.

Abstract

The collapse of the immune privilege (IP) of the anagen hair bulb is now accepted as a key element in AA pathogenesis, and hair bulb IP restoration lies at the core of AA therapy. Here, we briefly review the essentials of hair bulb IP and recent progress in understanding its complexity. We discuss open questions and why the systematic dissection of hair bulb IP and its pharmacological manipulation (including the clinical testing of FK506 and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogs) promise to extend the range of future therapeutic options in AA and other IP collapse-related autoimmune diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alopecia Areata / immunology*
  • Alopecia Areata / pathology
  • Alopecia Areata / therapy*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / therapy
  • Hair Follicle / immunology*
  • Hair Follicle / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immune Privilege*
  • Phenotype