Alopecia areata: a review of disease pathogenesis

Although the complete picture for alopecia areata (AA) pathogenesis has yet to be determined, recent research has made much progress in our understanding of the disease mechanism. Numerous circumstantial evidence supports the notion that AA is fundamentally a disease mediated by inflammatory cells and may be autoimmune in nature. Recent research has shown the hair-loss phenotype is precipitated predominantly by CD8+ lymphocytes, but the disease mechanism is driven by CD4+ lymphocytes. Although genetic susceptibility is a key contributor to disease development, disease onset and phenotypic presentation are probably modified by complex environmental interplay. On the basis of our current understanding of AA disease pathogenesis, several experimental and theoretical therapeutic approaches might be possible. However, the pathogenetic disease mechanism is particularly robust and the development of a cure for AA will be a significant challenge.

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Insights into amyloid disease from fly models

Essays in Biochemistry ◽

10.1042/bse0560069 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 56 ◽

pp. 69-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ko-Fan Chen ◽

Damian C. Crowther

Keyword(s):

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Amyloid Β Peptide ◽

Disease Pathogenesis ◽

Amyloid Aggregates ◽

Aβ Amyloid ◽

Polypeptide Chains ◽

Amyloid Diseases

The formation of amyloid aggregates is a feature of most, if not all, polypeptide chains. In vivo modelling of this process has been undertaken in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster with remarkable success. Models of both neurological and systemic amyloid diseases have been generated and have informed our understanding of disease pathogenesis in two main ways. First, the toxic amyloid species have been at least partially characterized, for example in the case of the Aβ (amyloid β-peptide) associated with Alzheimer's disease. Secondly, the genetic underpinning of model disease-linked phenotypes has been characterized for a number of neurodegenerative disorders. The current challenge is to integrate our understanding of disease-linked processes in the fly with our growing knowledge of human disease, for the benefit of patients.

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Treatment of alopecia areata with dinitrochlorobenzene

Archives of Dermatology ◽

10.1001/archderm.114.7.1036 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 114 (7) ◽

pp. 1036-1038 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

L. A. Daman

Keyword(s):

Alopecia Areata

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Alopecia areata and Down syndrome

Archives of Dermatology ◽

10.1001/archderm.112.10.1397 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 112 (10) ◽

pp. 1397-1399 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

D. M. Carter

Keyword(s):

Down Syndrome ◽

Alopecia Areata

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Immunologic studies in patients with alopecia areata

Archives of Dermatology ◽

10.1001/archderm.117.8.455a ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 117 (8) ◽

pp. 455a-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. Wolf

Keyword(s):

Alopecia Areata

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Wenn die Haare einen verlassen und nie mehr wiederkehren

Praxis ◽

10.1024/0369-8394.92.19.912 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 92 (19) ◽

pp. 912-914

Author(s):

von Mühlenen ◽

Schaub

Keyword(s):

Alopecia Areata ◽

Alopecia Universalis

Ein 23-järiger Mann leidet seit Kindheit an Haarverlust mit einem fast kompletten Fehlen der Kopfhaare seit seinem sechsten Altersjahr. In den letzten Monaten war es zu einem Fortschreiten der Erkrankung mit Entwicklung einer Alopecia universalis gekommen. Wir diskutieren die Pathogenese, Differentialdiagnose und Therapie der Alopecia areata.

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