title: Lesional infiltration of mast cells, Langerhans cells, T cells and local cytokine profiles in alopecia areata.
abstract: Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic inflammatory disease mediated by an array of cells and cytokines. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of histological sections with antibodies to mast cell tryptase, CD4, CD8, CD1a and semi-quantitative real-time PCR analysis of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines were performed in 55 patients to investigate the infiltration features of mast cells (MCs), T lymphocytes and Langerhans cells (LCs) in scalp lesions of patients with AA. In AA patients, increased MCs mainly infiltrated the peri-follicular and peri-vascular areas, and correlated positively with numbers of CD8(+) T lymphocytes in deep peri-follicular areas (P = 0.04), but negatively with CD4(+) T lymphocytes in deep peri-vascular areas (P = 0.031). In patients with active hair loss, LCs in epidermis, deep dermis and peri-vascular were elevated (Ps < 0.05). Infiltration of LCs in upper peri-vascular areas and CD8(+) T cell infiltration in deep peri-follicular areas were positively correlated (R = 0.618, P = 0.011), as well as LCs in deep peri-vascular areas with CD8(+) T cells in upper peri-follicular areas (R = 0.570, P = 0.017). In patients with active hair loss, Th1-type cytokine (IL-2, IL-8, TNF-α) mRNA expression in deep dermis were higher than in upper dermis (Ps < 0.05). However, in patients with non-active hair loss, Th2-type cytokine (IL-5, IL-10) mRNA expression in deep dermis was higher than that in the upper dermis (Ps < 0.05). Positive correlations were found existing between MCs and CD8(+) T cells, as well as between LCs and CD8(+) T cells. In conclusion, findings in this study allow us to propose a close relationship between mast cells and CD8(+) T cells, as well as between LCs and CD8(+) T cells in AA, as well as allergy may interfere with infiltrating T lymphocytes in AA lesional regions. Also, Th1-type cytokine are related to disease activity of alopecia areata, whereas Th2-type cytokines may be associated with persistence of AA.
authors: Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xiaoting
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Yanting
authors: Y
authors: Ye
authors: Shuifeng
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Shiling
authors: S
authors: Qi
authors: Yuqing
authors: Y
authors: Yang
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Cao
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Xingqi
authors: X
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger