Suppressor cell number and function in alopecia areata

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Several values of immunologic function were studied and correlated with disease activity and extent in 14 patients with alopecia areata, alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis and in a concurrently studied age- and sex-matched control group. Compared with the control group, the patients showed a significantly increased incidence of autoantibody formation, increased concanavalin A[Con A]-induced suppression of the normal lymphocyte response to mitogens, an increased proportion of suppressor-cytotoxic cells in the peripheral blood and a decrease in the absolute B cell count. Absolute total T cell counts, quantitative serum Ig determinations and lymphocyte proliferation after exposure to the mitogens, Con A, phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed and to tetanus antigen were comparable for both groups. Neither the percentage of Con A-induced suppression of the normal lymphocyte response to mitogens nor the helper-suppressor ratio correlated significantly with the extent of hair loss. Patients, particularly those who demonstrated spontaneous regrowth of hair, had increased Con A-induced suppression in conjunction with an increase in the proportion of peripheral suppressor cells.

This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit: