Treatment of alopecia areata in C3H/HeJ mice with the topical immunosuppressant FK506 (Tacrolimus).
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2001
Keywords
Alopecia-Areata, Animals, Antigens-CD4, Antigens-CD8, Hair, Histocompatibility-Antigens-Class-I, Histocompatibility-Antigens-Class-II, Immunohistochemistry, Immunosuppressive-Agents, Intercellular-Adhesion-Molecule-1, Mice-Inbred-C3H, Tacrolimus, Treatment-Outcome
First Page
405
Last Page
409
JAX Location
see Reprint Collection
JAX Source
Eur J Dermatol 2001 Sep-Oct; 11(5):405-9.
Abstract
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.
Recommended Citation
Freyschmidt PP,
Ziegler A,
McElwee KJ,
Happle R,
Kissling S,
Sundberg JP,
Hoffmann R.
Treatment of alopecia areata in C3H/HeJ mice with the topical immunosuppressant FK506 (Tacrolimus). Eur J Dermatol 2001 Sep-Oct; 11(5):405-9.