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Objectives: We previously revealed the role of prolactin (PRL) in antibody production and disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. In this study, we sought to determine whether inhibition of PRL could improve lupus‐like disease in MRL/lpr mice. Methods: The expression levels of PRL in various cell types of lupus patients were measured by flow cytometry. The effects of anti‐PRL on animal survival, renal histopathology, creatinine, proteinuria, anti‐dsDNA antibody, cytokine production, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy were assessed. The effect of anti‐PRL on the Jak2‐Stat3 signalling pathway was detected by western blotting. Results: Prolactin was upregulated in B cells, neutrophils, CD4+ T cells, and monocytes isolated from patients with lupus. Furthermore, inhibition of PRL by anti‐PRL treatment around the time of onset prolonged the survival of MRL/lpr mice, significantly reduced anti‐dsDNA antibody production, and alleviated symptoms of lupus nephritis, splenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. In addition, anti‐PRL‐treated mice showed a decrease in the levels of pathogenic cytokines such as IL‐21 and IL‐6. Furthermore, mechanistically, anti‐PRL treatment significantly reduced the levels of p‐Jak2 and p‐Stat3 in MRL/lpr mice. Conclusions: In summary, these data suggest that PRL inhibition alleviates lupus‐like disease in MRL/lpr mice by modulating the Jak2‐Stat3 signalling cascade. More importantly, our results imply the potential of PRL inhibitors and may provide a novel therapeutic approach for lupus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution (FAPD) is a distinct entity of primary cicatricial alopecia (PCA), mimicking diffuse hair loss of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) with trichoscopic and histopathologic features of both AGA and lichen planopilaris (LPP). Methods: Clinical, demographic, and histopathological data of 20 FAPD patients were retrospectively collected. Results: All patients presented with female pattern hair loss with a median Sinclair grade of 3. Trichoscopic findings revealed hair diameter variability (20/20), perifollicular erythema (mild 7/20, moderate 11/20, severe 2/20), peripilar casts (none 2/20, mild 12/20, moderate 5/20, severe 1/20), and loss of follicular ostia (+12/20, ±7/20, −1/20). Histopathologic examination revealed perifollicular lymphocytic infiltration at the infundibulum or isthmus level and an increase of vellus‐like hairs. All cases showed interface dermatitis with concentric perifollicular lamellar fibrosis and follicular scars. Infundibular or isthmic infiltration of mast cells was found. Conclusions: The uniqueness of our study lies in perifollicular mast cells and discovering that the young population is at higher risk than previously thought. Clinicopathological features of FAPD were identified, filling the void of much‐needed details for FAPD diagnosis tailored to the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dear Editor, Fibrosis is characterized by fibroblast dysfunction and excessive deposition of cell-matrix that affect the normal functioning of the original tissue or organ.[1] The pathogenesis of keloids is complex and remains elusive. Fibroblasts interacted with endothelial cells via I ACKR1 i , while multiple chemokines ( I CXCL2 i , I CCL3L3 i ) secreted by myeloid cells interacted with I DPP4 i in fibroblasts (Figure 4D). (F) Interaction of macrophages and fibroblasts based on molecular patterns indicated that macrophages interact with fibroblasts via SPP1. CTHRC1+ fibroblasts are stimulated by macrophage-secreted SPP1 to induce excessive collagen deposition in keloids. [Extracted from the article]

Hair follicles (HFs) play an essential role in sustaining a persistent hair growth cycle. The activities of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and other cells inside the HFs dominate the process of hair growth. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. To investigate the role of citric acid (CA) metabolism in hair growth, we evaluated the effect of citrate synthase (CS)–CA axis on hair growth in vivo and in vitro. Mice hair growth was evaluated by morphology and histopathology analysis. The inflammation and apoptosis levels in mice, HFs, and DPCs were detected by immunohistofluorescence, qPCR, ELISA, western blot, and TUNEL assay. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis in DPCs were analyzed by real‐time cell analysis and flow cytometer. We found that subcutaneous injection of CA in mice caused significant hair growth suppression, skin lesion, inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, and promotion of catagen entry, compared with the saline control, by activating p‐p65 and apoptosis signaling in an NLRP3‐dependent manner. In cultured human HFs, CA attenuated the hair shaft production and accelerated HF catagen entry by regulating the above‐mentioned pathways. Additionally, CA hampered the proliferation rate of DPCs via inducing cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Considering that citrate synthase (CS) is responsible for CA production and is a rate‐limiting enzyme of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, we also investigated the role of CS in CA metabolism and hair growth. As expected, knockdown of CS reduced CA production and reversed CA‐induced hair growth inhibition, anagen shrink, inflammation, and apoptosis both in HFs and DPCs. Our experiments demonstrated that CS–CA axis serves as an important mediator and might be a potential therapeutic target in hair growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) is effective in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of PRP on the proliferation of human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs), to observe the effect of PRP on the growth of hair follicles and hair shaft in vitro, to measure growth factors, and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PRP injection. Patients/Methods: The effect of PRP on the proliferation of HFDPCs was observed. The length of hair follicle and hair shaft in vitro was measured. Then, the concentration of growth factors (EGF, FGF‐2, FGF‐7, IGF‐1, HGF, PDGF‐BB, and VEGF‐A) was evaluated. Half‐head injection of PRP was conducted to 10 males. Three treatments were conducted at 30‐day intervals. Digital photographs were taken; hair diameter, hair density, unit density of hair follicles, and terminal hair/ vellus hair were analyzed. Results: Platelet‐rich plasma significantly promoted the proliferation of HFDPCs. Under the PRP culture, the hair follicle and hair shaft were grown, and the hair growth length on the 3rd and 6th days was greater than that of the control. PRP contained growth factors such as EGF, FGF‐2, FGF‐7, IGF‐1, HGF, PDGF‐B, and VEGF‐A. Hair diameter, hair density, and unit hair follicle density on the PRP injection side peaked in the 6th month. The terminal hair/ vellus hair of the PRP injection side reached a peak in the 4th month. The average patient satisfaction during the entire treatment was 5.4 points (0‐10 points). Conclusion: Platelet‐rich plasma can promote hair growth. PRP injection is safe and effective for the treatment of AGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives Keratinocyte death is a hallmark of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN). Apoptotic signal-associated cytokines, such as TNF-α, sFasL, granulysin, sTRAIL and IFN-γ have been reported to participate in keratinocyte apoptosis. However, their levels are variable, which hampers the elucidation of the role of these cytokines. We sought to determine whether cytokine levels vary with disease course. Methods The serum cytokine levels of 24 patients and blister fluid of 10 were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on the first day of their admission to hospital and were evaluated at different time points in the disease course. Meanwhile, surface markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD1a, CD14, CD16+56 and CD68) of blister fluid cells were measured by flow cytometry. Results The concentrations of all cytokines in the serum and blister fluid were higher than those in the controls and were more elevated in the blister fluid than in the serum. Moreover, sTRAIL, IFN-γ and TNF-α quantities were relatively stable, while those of sFasL and granulysin decreased rapidly in the disease course. On the first day, CD8+ T and natural killer cells were predominant in the blister fluid but their relative percentage diminished gradually, while that of CD14+ cells increased. Conclusion Our study confirmed there are high but variable levels of these cytokines in SJS/TEN, especially in the early phase and different tendencies are manifested in the disease course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Objective Methods Results Conclusion The robotic hair transplant technology, ARTAS, has a series of fine mechanical structure and an intelligent recognition system that allows it to independently select hair follicular units (FUs) and effectively harvest hair. After entering China in 2016, ARTAS has attracted the attention of hair transplant surgeons and hair loss patients given its advantages in a short learning curve and simple operation.To compare the efficacy and safety between the ARTAS system and follicular unit excision (FUE) in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and to further promote the improvement and upgrading of ARTAS technology concerning hair transplantation.Thirteen Chinese male patients with Norwood–Hamilton II–IV AGA aged 25–35 years were enrolled in this study. The donor site of each patient was randomly divided into left and right regions, receiving ARTAS on one side and FUE on the other. Yield, transection, and discard rates of hair FUs from both sides were compared. Safety of the procedures in whole, as well as follow‐up results were investigated and evaluated.The total yield rate on the ARTAS side was lower than on the FUE side (82.05% vs. 90.03%, p > 0.05); the total discard rate on the ARTAS side was higher than on the FUE side (10.71% vs. 5.46%, p < 0.05); the total transection rate on the ARTAS side was lower than on the FUE side (13.17% vs. 13.96%, p > 0.05). No significant difference was found in patient satisfaction (efficacy), and no side effects or complications were detected during or after all surgeries.The current iteration of Robotic hair transplant technology is effective and safe, and can be recommended for AGA hair transplantation surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case of folliculotropic mycosis fungoides (FMF), a type of cutaneous lymphoma, that was successfully treated with the oral selective JAK1 inhibitor abrocitinib. The patient, a 46-year-old Chinese male, had previously tried interferon and phototherapy with minimal improvement. After adding abrocitinib to the treatment plan, there was significant improvement in the skin lesions and reduction in pruritus. The study suggests that selective JAK1 inhibitors may be a promising adjunct therapy for refractory FMF. [Extracted from the article]