TLDR Hair follicles in nonsegmental vitiligo are better protected from immune attacks than in alopecia areata.
This study examined the immune privilege (IP) state of hair follicles in 40 patients with nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV) and alopecia areata (AA). In NSV, lesional hair follicles showed higher MHCI expression and lower TGF-β1 expression compared to nonlesional follicles, indicating an altered immune environment. In AA, there was a significant increase in IFN-γ and MHCI expression in lesional follicles, suggesting a loss of IP. The findings suggest that while NSV maintains some IP, protecting follicular melanocytes, AA experiences a collapse of IP, contributing to its pathogenesis. The study highlights different immunohistochemical profiles between NSV and AA, with potential implications for understanding their pathogenesis. Limitations include the small sample size and focus on scalp lesions.
51 citations
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286 citations
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