title: Imbalance of T-helper 17 and regulatory T cells in patients with alopecia areata.
abstract: There is mounting evidence that T helper (Th)17 cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) play parts in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Hence, levels of these T-cell subsets in patients with alopecia areata (AA) merit investigation. Our goal was to assess Th17 and Treg levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and scalp lesions of patients with AA, correlating the findings with clinical characteristics. PBMC of 177 patients with AA (test group) and 42 healthy controls and scalp tissues of 33 patients and 15 healthy controls were collected. Levels of Th17 and Treg subsets were then determined via flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining, correlating results in test subjects with clinical features of AA. Th17 levels were significantly higher in patients, whereas Treg levels were lower by comparison. Furthermore, Th17 levels in patients with disease of short duration or in the active phase were significantly higher, relative to their respective counterparts. Th17 levels also negatively correlated with disease duration. While Treg levels were higher in severe AA than in mild AA. Results of lesions were parallel to findings of PBMC. Our data indicates an imbalance in the immune state of patients with AA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: You-Yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Si-Si
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jing
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Ming
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Qin
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qin-Ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012535:Scalp / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; D058504:Th17 Cells; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors
keywords: Foxp3; T-helper cell 17; alopecia areata; interleukin-17; regulatory T cells