
Hair Follicle Structures Targeted by Antibodies in Patients With Alopecia Areata
Desmond J. Tobin, PhD;
Seung-Kyung Hann, MD;
Min-Soek Song, MD;
Jean-Claude Bystryn, MD
Arch Dermatol. 1997;133(1):57-61.
Abstract
 |  |
Objective To identify the structures in hair follicles (HFs) targeted by alopecia areata (AA) antibodies and the role of antigen expression in the development or localization of AA lesions.
Design The identity of HF structures targeted by AA antibodies was determined by indirect immunofluorescence and the level of antigen expression from the intensity of the staining.
Setting A university medical center.
Patients Ten patients with active AA and 8 control individuals.
Results Antibodies to anagen HFs were present in up to 90% of patients with AA but in less than 37% of controls. The antibodies in patients with AA reacted to antigens present only in HFs. The structures most commonly targeted were the outer root sheath and, less often, the inner root sheath, matrix, and hair shaft. The same HF structure contained several immunologically distinct antigens reactive with AA antibodies. The expression of some AA antigens was much greater in the scalp of patients with AA than in normal individuals.
Conclusions These findings indicate that the autoantibody responses to HFs in patients with AA are heterogeneous and target multiple structures in anagen HFs. The expression of some as-yet-unidentified HF antigens is increased in many patients with AA, suggesting that the initiation, localization, severity, and persistence of the disease may be related to the level of expression of some HF antigens.
Arch Dermatol. 1997;133:57-61
Author Affiliations
From the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University Medical Center, New York (Drs Tobin and Bystryn), and the Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (Drs Hann and Song).
CiteULike Connotea Del.icio.us Digg Reddit Technorati Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Mediation of Alopecia Areata by Cooperation Between CD4+ and CD8+ T Lymphocytes: Transfer to Human Scalp Explants on Prkdcscid Mice
Gilhar et al.
Arch Dermatol 2002;138:916-922.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|