382 Environmental pathobiology of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA): Does linalool promote FFA development and progression by inducing epithelial hair follicle stem cell damage and MICA expression in the bulge?

Abstract

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is the most common cicatricial alopecia, whose prevalence has greatly increased, mainly in post-menopausal women, results from irreversible epithelial hair follicle (HF) stem cell (eHFSC) damage. Exposure to ingredients commonly found in personal care products might trigger FFA-related immune responses. In fact, 76.2% of patients with FFA and/or LPP show type IV sensitization to allergens found in these products. Since the terpene fragrant, linalool, is one of the most common allergens identified in FFA patients, we have probed the hypothesis that linalool may promote bulge HF immune privilege (IP) collapse and/or eHFSC damage, i.e.