Attending persistent T cell activation in alopecia areata : A therapeutic option

Alopecia areata an autoimmune disease of the hair follicle is most efficiently cured by contact sensitizers (Delayed type hypersenstivity). The curative effect is the expansion of myeloid derived suppressor cells which can suppress the autoreactive T cells and induce apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway. Another aspect is by hindrance of the antigen presentation to lymphocytes. CD44 with CD49d plays an important role in homing of lymphocytes and blockade of these can help cure Alopecia areata.