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Šutić Udović I, Hlača N, Massari LP, Brajac I, Kaštelan M, Vičić M. Deciphering the Complex Immunopathogenesis of Alopecia Areata. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5652. [PMID: 38891839 PMCID: PMC11172390 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune-mediated disorder in which the proximal hair follicle (HF) attack results in non-scarring partial to total scalp or body hair loss. Despite the growing knowledge about AA, its exact cause still needs to be understood. However, immunity and genetic factors are affirmed to be critical in AA development. While the genome-wide association studies proved the innate and acquired immunity involvement, AA mouse models implicated the IFN-γ- and cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell-mediated immune response as the main drivers of disease pathogenesis. The AA hair loss is caused by T-cell-mediated inflammation in the HF area, disturbing its function and disrupting the hair growth cycle without destroying the follicle. Thus, the loss of HF immune privilege, autoimmune HF destruction mediated by cytotoxic mechanisms, and the upregulation of inflammatory pathways play a crucial role. AA is associated with concurrent systemic and autoimmune disorders such as atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, psoriasis, and thyroiditis. Likewise, the patient's quality of life (QoL) is significantly impaired by morphologic disfigurement caused by the illness. The patients experience a negative impact on psychological well-being and self-esteem and may be more likely to suffer from psychiatric comorbidities. This manuscript aims to present the latest knowledge on the pathogenesis of AA, which involves genetic, epigenetic, immunological, and environmental factors, with a particular emphasis on immunopathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Larisa Prpić Massari
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Krešimirova 42, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (I.Š.U.); (N.H.); (I.B.); (M.K.); (M.V.)
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Waśkiel-Burnat A, Osińska M, Salińska A, Blicharz L, Goldust M, Olszewska M, Rudnicka L. The Role of Serum Th1, Th2, and Th17 Cytokines in Patients with Alopecia Areata: Clinical Implications. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123397. [PMID: 34943905 PMCID: PMC8699846 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alopecia areata is a type of non-scarring hair loss. The dysregulation of numerous systemic Th1 (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF, IL-12, and IL-18), Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17E, IL-31 and IL-33) and Th17 (IL-17, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23 and TGF-β) cytokines was observed in patients with alopecia areata. Positive correlations between the severity of alopecia areata and an increased serum level of various cytokines including IL-2, TNF, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-17E were reported in the literature. An increased serum level of numerous cytokines, such as IL-2, IL-6, TNF, IL-12, IL-17E, and IL-22, was described as positively correlated with the duration of the disease. Moreover, it was shown that increased pre-treatment serum level of IL-12 was a positive, while increased serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 were negative prognostic markers for the efficacy of diphenylcyclopropenone. In conclusion, alopecia areata is associated with the dysregulation of systemic Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines with their role in the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and prognosis of the disease. Available data indicate the most significant role of serum IL-2, TNF, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-17E as markers of disease activity. The serum levels IL-4, IL-12 and IL-13 may be useful as potential predictors of diphenylcyclopropenone efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Waśkiel-Burnat
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Koszykowa 82A, 02-008 Warsaw, Poland; (A.W.-B.); (M.O.); (A.S.); (L.B.); (M.O.)
| | - Marta Osińska
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Koszykowa 82A, 02-008 Warsaw, Poland; (A.W.-B.); (M.O.); (A.S.); (L.B.); (M.O.)
| | - Anna Salińska
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Koszykowa 82A, 02-008 Warsaw, Poland; (A.W.-B.); (M.O.); (A.S.); (L.B.); (M.O.)
| | - Leszek Blicharz
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Koszykowa 82A, 02-008 Warsaw, Poland; (A.W.-B.); (M.O.); (A.S.); (L.B.); (M.O.)
| | - Mohamad Goldust
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55122 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Małgorzata Olszewska
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Koszykowa 82A, 02-008 Warsaw, Poland; (A.W.-B.); (M.O.); (A.S.); (L.B.); (M.O.)
| | - Lidia Rudnicka
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Koszykowa 82A, 02-008 Warsaw, Poland; (A.W.-B.); (M.O.); (A.S.); (L.B.); (M.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-22-502-13-24; Fax: +48-22-824-22-00
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Glickman JW, Dubin C, Dahabreh D, Han J, Del Duca E, Estrada YD, Zhang N, Kimmel GW, Singer G, Krueger JG, Pavel AB, Guttman‐Yassky E. An integrated scalp and blood biomarker approach suggests the systemic nature of alopecia areata. Allergy 2021; 76:3053-3065. [PMID: 33721346 DOI: 10.1111/all.14814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by immune dysregulation in both scalp and blood, but a large-scale approach establishing biomarkers of AA incorporating both scalp tissue and serum compartments is lacking. We aimed to characterize the transcriptomic signature of AA lesional and nonlesional scalp compared to healthy scalp and determine its relationship with the blood proteome in the same individuals, with comparative correlations to clinical AA disease severity. METHODS We evaluated lesional and nonlesional scalp tissues and serum from patients with moderate-to-severe AA (n = 18) and healthy individuals (n = 8). We assessed 33,118 genes in AA scalp tissue using RNAseq transcriptomic evaluation and 340 inflammatory proteins in serum using OLINK high-throughput proteomics. Univariate and multivariate approaches were used to correlate disease biomarkers with Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT). RESULTS A total of 608 inflammatory genes were differentially expressed in lesional AA scalp (fold change/FCH>1.5, false discovery rate/FDR<0.05) including Th1 (IFNG/IL12B/CXCL11), Th2 (IL13/CCL18), and T-cell activation-related (ICOS) products. Th1/Th2-related markers were significantly correlated with AA clinical severity in lesional/nonlesional tissue, while keratins (KRT35/KRT83/KRT81) were significantly downregulated in lesional compared to healthy scalp (p < .05). Expression of cardiovascular/atherosclerosis-related markers (MMP9/CCL2/IL1RL1/IL33R/ST2/AGER) in lesional scalp correlated with their corresponding serum expression (p < .05). AA scalp demonstrated significantly greater biomarker dysregulation compared to blood. An integrated multivariate approach combining scalp and serum biomarkers improved correlations with disease severity/SALT. CONCLUSION This study contributes a unique understanding of the phenotype of moderate-to-severe AA with an integrated scalp and serum biomarker model suggesting the systemic nature of the disease, advocating for the need for immune-based systemic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob W. Glickman
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Celina Dubin
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Dante Dahabreh
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Joseph Han
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Ester Del Duca
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Yeriel D. Estrada
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Ning Zhang
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Grace W. Kimmel
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Giselle Singer
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - James G. Krueger
- Laboratory for Investigative Dermatology The Rockefeller University New York NY USA
| | - Ana B. Pavel
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering The University of Mississippi University MS USA
| | - Emma Guttman‐Yassky
- Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
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Mustafa AI, Al-Refaie AM, El-Shimi OS, Fawzy E, Sorour NE. Diagnostic implications of MicroRNAs; 155, 146 a, and 203 lesional expression in alopecia areata: A preliminary case-controlled study. J Cosmet Dermatol 2021; 21:2648-2654. [PMID: 34564949 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.14473] [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: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune mediated disorder that attacks hair follicles with unknown pathophysiology. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules, and their aberrant expression or function has been involved in different autoimmune conditions. OBJECTIVES We aimed at exploring the association between some miRNAs lesional expression and AA pathogenesis by measurement of miRNAs-155, 146a, and 203 expression levels in the lesional skin from patchy AA patients and to evaluate their relation with the studied parameters. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Skin expression levels of miRNAs-155, 146a, and 203 were evaluated in 50 patients with patchy AA and 25 healthy controls using reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The activity and severity of alopecia were assessed according to AA Investigational Assessment Guidelines criteria. RESULTS Studied patients showed significant up-regulation of miRNAs-203, 146a, and 155 lesional tissue expression levels when compared to control group (p < 0.05 each). Only miRNA-146a skin expression level was significantly higher in patients with multiple lesions (p < 0.001). However, patients with active AA had significantly higher tissue expression levels of the investigated miRNAs than those with inactive disease (P 0.001, 0.009, and 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Investigated miRNAs seem to be role players in AA pathogenesis and may be considered potential indicators of disease activity. However, more research is needed to clarify their accurate role and clinical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amany Ibrahim Mustafa
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.,Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, October 6 University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Asmaa Mohamed Al-Refaie
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Ola Samir El-Shimi
- Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Eman Fawzy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mansoura Fever Hospital, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Neveen Emad Sorour
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
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Rossi A, Magri F, Michelini S, Sernicola A, Muscianese M, Caro G, Di Fraia M, Chello C, Fortuna MC, Grieco T. New onset of alopecia areata in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection: Possible pathogenetic correlations? J Cosmet Dermatol 2021; 20:2004-2005. [PMID: 33738910 PMCID: PMC8251072 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.14080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Rossi
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Magri
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Michelini
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alvise Sernicola
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Muscianese
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gemma Caro
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Di Fraia
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Camilla Chello
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Fortuna
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Teresa Grieco
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Effects of microRNA-21 on the interleukin 12/signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 signaling pathway in asthmatic mice. Cent Eur J Immunol 2014; 39:40-5. [PMID: 26155098 PMCID: PMC4439986 DOI: 10.5114/ceji.2014.42121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To study the effect of microRNA-21 (miRNA-21) on the regulation of the interleukin 12 (IL-12)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) pathway in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice. Material and methods Forty five male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups of 15 mice each: normal control, asthmatic model, and dexamethasone. Our mouse model of allergic asathma was established using OVA sensitization and challenge. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in lung tissue morphology. Both the total cell number and the amount of eosinophils (EOS) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were manually counted. The expression of miRNA-21 was detected by real time quantitative PCR. The expression levels of IL-12 and STAT4 in lung tissue were assayed via western blot, and immunohistochemistry was used to observe the distribution of their expression. Results The expression levels of miRNA-21 as well as the total number of BALF cells and EOS were significantly higher in the asthmatic model group than in the control or dexamethasone groups, with significantly higher amounts found in the dexamethasone group than in the control group. The expression levels of IL-12 and STAT4 proteins were lower in the asthmatic model group than in the control and dexamethasone groups, with a significantly lower expression of IL-12 and STAT4 in the dexamethasone group than in the control group. Conclusions The expression level of miRNA-21 was significantly increased and the expression level of IL-12 and STAT4 proteins was significantly decreased in allergic asthmatic mice compared with normal control mice. These findings suggest a role for miRNA-21 and the IL-12/STAT4 pathway in the development of allergic asthma.
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