Zhou Yuan, Zhang Yu-Xuan, Xiong Yu-Yun, Li Yu-Mei
Department of Dermatology, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Jan 15;11:1510363. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1510363. eCollection 2024.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by the loss of functional melanocytes in the hair follicles and epidermis, leading to white patches on the skin and mucous membranes. Alopecia areata (AA) is a common immune-mediated condition in which autoimmune attack on hair follicles cause non-scarring hair loss. Both diseases significantly impact patients's physical and mental health. Hair follicles, dynamic mini-organs, house diverse stem cell populations that form hair structures. Melanocyte stem cell (McSCs) and hair follicle stem cells (HFSC) located in the hair follicle bulge contribute to follicular structures during each anagen phase of the hair cycle, synchronizing periodic activities to impact color to the hair. Hair follicle dysfunction may contribute to hair loss and could potentially interfere with repigmentation efforts in vitiligo lesions. This article reviews the role of hair follicles in the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic options for vitiligo and AA, aiming to deepen clinicians' understanding of follicular involvement in these diseases and explore potential treatment avenues.
白癜风是一种自身免疫性疾病，其特征是毛囊和表皮中功能性黑素细胞丧失，导致皮肤和粘膜出现白斑。斑秃（AA）是一种常见的免疫介导性疾病，其中对毛囊的自身免疫攻击会导致非瘢痕性脱发。这两种疾病都会对患者的身心健康产生重大影响。毛囊是动态的微型器官，容纳着形成毛发结构的多种干细胞群体。位于毛囊隆突处的黑素细胞干细胞（McSCs）和毛囊干细胞（HFSC）在毛发周期的每个生长期都有助于毛囊结构的形成，使周期性活动同步，从而影响毛发的颜色。毛囊功能障碍可能导致脱发，并可能干扰白癜风皮损的色素恢复。本文综述了毛囊在白癜风和斑秃的发病机制、临床表现及治疗选择中的作用，旨在加深临床医生对毛囊在这些疾病中所起作用的理解，并探索潜在的治疗途径。
