Comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic profiling of the scalp from patients with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #alopecia areata
- #immune privilege
- #single-cell RNA-seq
- Single-cell RNA-sequencing was performed on scalp biopsies from 13 patients with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata (AA) and 11 healthy controls.
- Lesional AA samples showed strong Th1 activation and cytotoxicity, with upregulated genes like IFNG, GZMH/K, and XCL1/2.
- Th2 skewing was observed in lesional CD4+ and regulatory T-cells, with elevated IL13, IL13RA1, and IL4R.
- Increased levels of IL15, JAK2/3, and STAT1 were found in distinct dendritic cell subsets, with similar upregulation in fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
- Fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells exhibited pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic markers like CXCL9, CCL26, POSTN, COL5A3, and COL6A6.
- Lesional keratinocytes showed downregulated hair keratins and increased interferon signaling.
- AA endothelial cells displayed increased angiogenic and interferon signatures.
- Alopecia totalis/universalis (AT/AU) showed higher expression of cytotoxic, Th1, Th2, and JAK/STAT markers in immune cells compared to patchy AA and controls.
- Non-immune cells in AT/AU exhibited proliferative and inflammatory signatures.
- The study provides a high-resolution single-cell map of AA scalp, revealing potential communication networks between immune and non-immune cells that may disrupt hair follicle immune privilege and drive disease progression.