MD TP2: Pharmacological manipulation of HF-IP as pre-clinical model for IP-dependent autoimmunity disease: Role of VIP

The autoimmune hair loss disorder, alopecia areata (AA), largely results from the collapse of a – normally carefully maintained – protective system by which hair follicles (HF) guard themselves against damaging attacks by the immune system. AA treatment has remained inefficient because clinically applicable strategies for restoring this protective system - the so-called HF immune privilege (IP) – remain to be developed. In the current project, we shall culture healthy human scalp HFs, and shall imitate the collapse of their IP by experimental manipulation, adding INFgamma, a key cytokine of AA pathogenesis. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), an important neuropeptide with immunomodulatory activities which play a role in the eye IP, will then be tested for its efficiency in preventing HF-IP collapse, and/or in effectively restoring it. This will quickly probably identify promising new candidate for more effective AA therapy.

The work has been concluded and is currently summarized in my thesis.