Alopecia Universalis Following Two Sequential Traffic Accidents : Possible Association with Increased Th1 and Th17 Cells and Decreased Th2 Cells

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  • KUBO Rieko
    Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
  • NAKAMURA Motonobu
    Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
  • TOKURA Yoshiki
    Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health

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Other Title
  • 連続交通事故後に生じた汎発性脱毛 : Th1細胞とTh17細胞の増加とTh2細胞の減少との潜在的関連性

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Abstract

A 37-year-old Japanese man presented with alopecia after being involved in a traffic accident. An immunohistochemical study of the biopsy specimen demonstrated that CD8+ T cells infiltrated into hair follicles with satellite cell necrosis of keratinocytes. Four weeks after his initial visit, he again had another traffic accident. Despite the treatment with oral prednisolone and a topical steroid, the alopecia became universalis. Treatment with systemic and topical steroids was continued, and 12 weeks later, white vellus hairs grew over the whole scalp. Intracytoplasmic study revealed that there was a positive correlation between the severity of the alopecia and the increase of interferon-γ producing Th1 cells or interleukin (IL)-17 producing Th17 cells, whereas the number of IL-4 expressing Th2 cells was inversely proportional to the extent of alopecia. The autoimmune hair loss might occur via the activation of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells.

Journal

  • Journal of UOEH

    Journal of UOEH 33 (4), 313-317, 2011

    The University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

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