CLINICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DISTURBANCES OF LOCAL IMMUNE RESPONSE IN ALOPECIA AREATA ACCORDING TO THE DISEASE ACTIVITY

Abstract

Aim. Description of morphological characteristics of alopecia areata according to the disease activity.Methods. Skin biopsies from scalp of patients with alopecia areata were studied: expression of CD4+, CD8+, CD68+, interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-y (IFN-y) and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a) was assessed.Results. In alopecia areata local inflammatory CD4+- and CD8+-mediated cytotoxic immune response develops with participation of proinflammatory cytokins (IL-2, IFN-y, TNF-a). Corellation between clinical and morphological signs of alopecia areata activity can be seen.Conclusion. Local skin immune-mediated inflammatory response in alopecia areata can be considered as target for pathogenetic therapy.

Keywords

• alopecia areata
• immune response
• cytotoxic t-lymphocytes