Potential Therapeutic Targets to Treat Alopecia Areata

A recent study, published in Skin Appendage Disorders, found that the expression levels of microRNA 205 (miRNA-205) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) were increased, whereas long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR expression levels were decreased in patients with alopecia areata (AA), suggesting this could be used as a therapeutic target in AA.

Researchers aimed to evaluate the role of miRNA-205, lncRNA, HOTAIR, and TFG-β1 levels in AA pathogenesis, clinical course, and severity in a case-control study. The miRNA-205 and lncRNA HOTAIR expression levels were determined using quantitative RT-PCR, and serum levels of TGF-β1 levels were assayed using ELISA techniques in 2 groups of subjects.

lncRNA HOTAIR expression was downregulated in patients with AA, but miRNA-205 and TGF-β1 levels were upregulated.

“This study highlights the potential role of high serum expression of miRNA-205 and TGF-β1 and the low serum expression of lncRNA HOTAIR in AA pathogenesis,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Mohamad N, Khedr AMB, Shaker OG, Hassan M. Expression of long noncoding RNA, HOTAIR, and MicroRNA-205 and their relation to transforming growth factor β1 in patients with alopecia areata. Skin Appendage Disord. 2023;9(2):111-120. doi:10.1159/000527851