Abstract: Ma Xinhua, Shao Wenjun, Jin Wanwan, Gao Yu. Department of Dermatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: Gao Yu, Email: gaoyu@medmail.com.cn 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the potential association of CD4+CD25+ T cells with alopecia areata. Methods Totally, this study enrolled 23 patients with progressive alopecia areata, 25 patients with stable alopecia areata, and 25 healthy controls. Peripheral blood was isolated from these subjects followed by isolation of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, which were then cultured with the presence of anti-CD3 and -CD28 monoclonal antibodies for four days. Subsequently, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure the levels of interleukin （IL）-10 and transforming growth factor （TGF）-β1 in the culture supernatant of these T cells. Results The levels of IL-10 and TGF-β1 were （31.68 ± 6.78） pg/ml and（32.29 ± 6.8） pg/ml respectively in the culture supernatant of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells from patients with progressive alopecia areata, significantly lower than those from the healthy controls （（57.34 ± 14.15） pg/ml and （57.43 ± 15.16） pg/ml, both P < 0.05） and patients with stable alopecia areata （（52.56 ± 13.02） pg/ml and （61.75 ± 14.10） pg/ml, both P < 0.05）. However, no significant difference was observed in the supernatant levels of IL-10 or TGF-β1 between the healthy controls and patients with stable alopecia areata. Conclusions The secretion of IL-10 and TGF-β1 by CD4+CD25+ T cells is decreased in patients with progressive alopecia areata, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of alopecia areata.

Key words: Alopecia areata, Transforming growth factor beta1, Interleukin-10