014 Tyrosine Kinase 2 Inhibition Ameliorates the Phenotype of Lesional Alopecia Areata Scalp Skin Ex Vivo, and Reverses the Induction of Human Alopecia Areata in a Humanized Mouse Model

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune-mediated hair follicle (HF) disorder induced by elevated IFNγ levels and a Tc1-driven inflammatory response. We have previously shown that treatment with IL-12 and IL-18 induces IFNγ-dependent, immune privilege collapse of the hair bulb, which can be inhibited by blocking IL-12 receptor signaling with the TYK2 inhibitor, BMS-986202 (BMS), in human microdissected HFs. Here, we further investigate the role of TYK2 and its inhibition in AA pathogenesis. We cultured human full thickness non-lesional and lesional scalp skin biopsies from acute or chronic AA patients ex vivo with BMS.