• Question: My sister has an autoimmune disease called alopecia ariata, why do her self immune system attack herself in the hair cells?

    Asked by anon-256738 to Vanessa, Richard on 12 Jun 2020.
    • Photo: Richard Clayton

      Richard Clayton answered on 12 Jun 2020:

      Hello, Ignacio! Back in the 1980’s, scientists saw that in alopecia areata (AA), lots of immune cells surround hair follicles. It is indeed thought that AA is caused by the destruction of hair follicles by cells of the immune system. Interestingly, some other skin conditions are also thought to be caused by misbehaving immune cells. But why does this happen? This is a question that scientists and dermatologists are still working hard to answer.

      One idea is that one way in which cells talk to each other (signalling) called the JAK-STAT pathway, does not work properly in AA. This pathway is very important in telling immune cells what to do.

      Here, you can read about one scientist’s inspiring journey with hair follicle research and her own experience as someone with AA (https://www.magazine.columbia.edu/article/radical-solutions-baldness).

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