Integrated Single-Cell Chromatin and Transcriptomic Analyses of Peripheral Immune Cells in Patients With Alopecia Areata

This study provides an integrated single-cell chromatin and transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with alopecia areata (AA), involving 32,453 high-quality cells across 36 immune cell subtypes. The research reveals increased transcriptional heterogeneity and cytokine pathway activation in AA patients, particularly those with severe disease, with significant epigenetic changes in CD14⁺ monocytes, NK cells, and CD8⁺ T cells. Mild AA is characterized by early immune regulatory failure. The study identifies key signaling hubs and potential pathways for therapeutic targeting, offering new insights into systemic immune dysregulation in AA.