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Suzuki T, Ito T, Gilhar A, Tokura Y, Reich K, Paus R. The hair follicle-psoriasis axis: Shared regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Exp Dermatol 2021; 31:266-279. [PMID: 34587317 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
It has long been known that there is a special affinity of psoriasis for the scalp: Here, it occurs most frequently, lesions terminate sharply in frontal skin beyond the hair line and are difficult to treat. Yet, surprisingly, scalp psoriasis only rarely causes alopecia, even though the pilosebaceous unit clearly is affected. Here, we systematically explore the peculiar, insufficiently investigated connection between psoriasis and growing (anagen) terminal scalp hair follicles (HFs), with emphasis on shared regulatory mechanism and therapeutic targets. Interestingly, several drugs and stressors that can trigger/aggravate psoriasis can inhibit hair growth (e.g. beta-blockers, chloroquine, carbamazepine, interferon-alpha, perceived stress). Instead, several anti-psoriatic agents can stimulate hair growth (e.g. cyclosporine, glucocorticoids, dithranol, UV irradiation), while skin/HF trauma (Köbner phenomenon/depilation) favours the development of psoriatic lesions and induces anagen in "quiescent" (telogen) HFs. On this basis, we propose two interconnected working models: (a) the existence of a bidirectional "hair follicle-psoriasis axis," along which keratinocytes of anagen scalp HFs secrete signals that favour the development and maintenance of psoriatic scalp lesions and respond to signals from these lesions, and (b) that anagen induction and psoriatic lesions share molecular "switch-on" mechanisms, which invite pharmacological targeting, once identified. Therefore, we advocate a novel, cross-fertilizing and integrative approach to psoriasis and hair research that systematically characterizes the "HF-psoriasis axis," focused on identification and therapeutic targeting of selected, shared signalling pathways in the future management of both, psoriasis and hair growth disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Suzuki
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Taisuke Ito
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Amos Gilhar
- Skin Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yoshiki Tokura
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.,Allergic Disease Research Center, Chutoen General Medical Center, Kakegawa, Japan
| | - Kristian Reich
- Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Monasterium Laboratory, Münster, Germany
| | - Ralf Paus
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.,Monasterium Laboratory, Münster, Germany.,Centre for Dermatology Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Center, Manchester, UK
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Abstract
Alopecia is a skin condition of great social and psychologic impact. Primary alopecia originates from the hair follicles and usually does not have systemic manifestations; however, secondary alopecia can affect the hair follicles in the setting of systemic diseases, medications, and external trauma. Connective tissue diseases, granulomatous diseases, bullous diseases, infections, and tumors are some of the systemic diseases that will be covered in this review. Trichoscopy is a useful noninvasive tool that can help with the diagnosis in the office and can guide the selection of the optimal site for the scalp biopsy. Histopathology is the ultimate tool for the diagnosis in most cases of secondary alopecia and can be performed on vertical and horizontal sections. In most cases, treating the underlying condition is the single most important strategy, but topical treatments for the alopecia are also applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Nanda
- Dr. Philip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Valeria De Bedout
- Dr. Philip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mariya Miteva
- Dr. Philip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
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