Abstract:

Cai Zeming*, Zhao Ying, Zhang Bin, Gong Yugang, Xi Lan, Yang Jian, Zhang Xingqi. *Department of Dermatology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 332000, China Corresponding author: Zhang Xingqi, Email: xingqi.zhang@aliyun.com 【Abstract】 Objective To detect the expressions of apoptosis-related factors and inflammatory cytokines in superficial and deep layers of as well as anagen hair follicles in lesions of early alopecia areata （AA）. Methods Scalp biopsy samples were collected from 25 patients with early AA and 15 healthy human controls. Fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to detect mRNA expressions of apoptosis-related genes p53, caspase 3, Fas, survivin and bcl-2, as well as those of inflammatory cytokines interleukin （IL）-4, IL-10, IL-12 and interferon （IFN）-γ. An immunohistochemical assay was conducted to measure the expression of p53 protein in anagen hair follicles. Results Compared with control skin samples, anagen hair follicles in AA lesions showed significantly increased mRNA expression levels （expressed as 2-ΔΔCt） of pro-apoptotic factors caspase 3, p53 and Fas （6.78, 8.01, 9.74, respectively, all P < 0.05）, but decreased mRNA expression levels of antiapoptotic factors bcl-2 and survivin （0.08 and 0.03 respectively, both P < 0.01）, and similar mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines. There was a significant increase in mRNA expression levels of Th1 cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12 （2.75 vs. 1.00, P < 0.05; 85.67 vs. 1.00, P < 0.01）, but a significant decrease in the expression level of the Th2 cytokine IL-10 （0.002 vs. 1.000, P < 0.01） in superficial layers of AA lesions compared with those of normal control skin. The degree of changes in mRNA expression levels of IL-10 and IL-12 was significantly higher in superficial layers than in deep layers of AA lesions （P<0.01 and 0.05 respectively）. The immunohistochemical assay showed that the number of p53-positive cells per 100 cells in anagen hair follicles of AA lesions was higher than that in those of control skin （t = 23.79, P < 0.01）. Conclusions Anagen hair follicles in AA lesions exhibit high expressions of pro-apoptosis factors, but low expressions of antiapoptotic factors, suggesting that apoptotic factors play a role in the occurrence of AA.