Clinical Correlation and Immunological Study about Th1 Cytokines Profile in Patients with Alopecia Areata

Abstract

Several studies have shown that within the cascade of pathogenesis of alopecia areata, cytokines and other molecules that coordinate cyclical hair growth play a crucial role. In this research, we attempt to review the immunological role of some of Th1 cytokines namely γ-INF and TNF-α, in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata, alongside with the exploration of their clinical correlation to disease severity. This is a case controlled study conducted upon fifty four patients (twenty nine males and twenty five females, mean age 32 years) complaining from alopecia areata, and thirty apparently healthy subjects (who are age and sex-matched with the patients group). All patients and the control subjects were investigated for serum concentrations of γ-IFN, and TNF-α through a solid phase sandwich enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay (EASIA) . Results about the serum concentrations of γ-INF and TNF-α evaluated in this study shows that there is a significant difference in the concentrations of these two cytokines between patients of alopecia areata and control group(P<0.05). Serum concentrations of γ-INF and TNF-α were also found to be logically clinically correlated to the size of affected area of hair loss among patients with severe type of alopecia areata.