| First Author | Freyschmidt-Paul P | Year | 2005 |
| Journal | J Invest Dermatol | Volume | 125 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 945-51 |
| PubMed ID | 16297194 | Mgi Jnum | J:102954 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3608267 | Doi | 10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23888.x |
| Citation | Freyschmidt-Paul P, et al. (2005) Reduced expression of interleukin-2 decreases the frequency of alopecia areata onset in C3H/HeJ mice. J Invest Dermatol 125(5):945-51 |
| abstractText | Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune hair loss disease, that can be transferred between C3H/HeJ mice by skin grafting. We explored whether AA susceptibility is influenced by the availability of interleukin (IL)-2, a cytokine with leukocyte activating and regulatory properties. Mice heterozygous for a targeted deletion of IL-2 from the histocompatible C3.129P2(B6)-Il2(tm1Hor) substrain, that produce reduced levels of IL-2, were examined for AA development after grafting skin from AA-affected C3H/HeJ mice. After grafting, nine of 19 (47%) heterozygous IL-2+/-versus 16 of 18 (88%) IL-2+/+ wild-type littermates developed AA. Although dense follicular leukocyte infiltrates were apparent in AA affected wild-type mice, AA-developing IL-2+/- littermates had a reduced leukocyte infiltration, and AA-resistant IL-2+/- mice had no inflammation. Lymph node cell analysis revealed a reduction in leukocyte activation markers in AA-developing IL-2+/- mice. IL-2+/- mice presented with low level expression of cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, interferon-gamma, transforming growth factor-beta), upregulation of tumor necrosis factor receptors, and increased leukocyte apoptosis susceptibility independent of AA expression. In the skin, CD4+ cells and monocytes were reduced; activation markers were not upregulated and very few CD44v3+ or CD44v10+ leukocytes were recovered. Taken together, our data suggest that AA resistance of IL-2+/- mice is because of the failure of activated leukocyte recruitment, thus pointing toward an involvement of IL-2 in AA pathogenesis. |
