John Libbey Eurotext




Treatment of alopecia areata in C3H/HeJ mice with the topical immunosuppressant FK506 (Tacrolimus)
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 11, Number 5, 405-9, September - October 2001, Revues
Résumé Free Article
Author(s) : Pia FREYSCHMIDT-PAUL, Andreas ZIEGLER, Kevin J. McELWEE, Rudolf HAPPLE, Sabine KISSLING, John P. SUNDBERG, Rolf HOFFMANN
Summary : Alopecia areata-like hair loss has been observed in C3H/HeJ mice and can be defined as a tissue-restricted T cell mediated disease of the hair follicle. Because FK506 has been described as suppressing T cell mediated autoimmune diseases, we addressed the question whether topical treatment of C3H/HeJ mice with FK506 has a beneficial effect on alopecia areata (AA). For this purpose six C3H/HeJ mice with AA were treated topically with 0.1% FK506 ointment, four mice received the vehicle only. Four of six FK506-treated mice showed complete hair regrowth, whereas 1/4 vehicle-treated mice regrew hair. Mice treated successfully with FK506 had reduced perifollicular infiltrates of CD4+ and CD8+ cells and a decreased expression of MHC class I and II and ICAM-1 on hair follicle epithelium, compared to control mice. We conclude that topical treatment with FK506 is able to induce hair regrowth in AA of C3H/HeJ mice, most likely by suppressing the T cell mediated immune response
Keywords : alopecia areata, autoimmune disease, C3H/HeJ mouse, FK506, tacrolimus, T cell

Treatment of alopecia areata in C3H/HeJ mice with the topical immunosuppressant FK506 (Tacrolimus)