The efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in patients with alopecia totalis

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common hair loss condition that is characterized by acute onset of nonscarring hair loss in usually sharply defined areas ranging from small patches to extensive or less frequently diffuse involvement. In a mouse model of AA, CD8+NKG2D+ T cells were shown to be central in AA, causing up-regulation of interleukin-15 in hair follicles and ultimately production of INF- γ, which targets the hair follicle for attack. The common gamma chain (γc; expressed by IL-15R) signals through Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and 3, whereas INF-γ through JAK 1 and 2.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Source Type: research