Integrated Single-Cell Chromatin And Transcriptomic Analyses Of Peripheral Immune Cells In Patients With Alopecia Areata

July 2025 in “ Frontiers in Immunology ”

Jesús Gay-Mimbrera, Pedro Jesús Gómez‐Arias, Pablo Álvarez-Heredia, Alexander Batista-Duharte, Irene Rivera‐Ruiz, Macarena Aguilar-Luque, M. Juan-Cencerrado, Carmen Mochón‐Jiménez, Álvaro Cebrián-García, Eloísa Andújar, Mónica Pérez-Alegre, Alejandra Pera, Juan Ruano

alopecia areata single-cell chromatin analysis transcriptomic analysis peripheral immune cells CD14+ monocytes NK cells CD8+ T cells cytokine pathway activation epigenetic remodeling JAK inhibitors AA natural killer cells Janus kinase inhibitors

TLDR Early intervention with JAK inhibitors may prevent alopecia areata progression.

This study provides an integrated single-cell chromatin and transcriptomic analysis of peripheral immune cells in 35 individuals, including those with alopecia areata (AA) and healthy controls. It reveals systemic immune alterations linked to disease severity, with increased transcriptional heterogeneity and cytokine pathway activation, especially in severe AA. Significant epigenetic remodeling was observed in CD14+ monocytes, NK cells, and CD8+ T cells. The study identifies key signaling hubs and candidate pathways for therapeutic targeting, suggesting that early intervention with JAK inhibitors could prevent disease progression. Despite limitations like modest sample size, the findings offer valuable insights into AA pathobiology and potential therapeutic targets.

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