Cellular retinol-binding protein-1 expression increases with increasing clinical severity of alopecia areata.

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is multifactorial disease mostly autoimmune affecting anagen hair follicles. Many researchers hypothesize that adequate retinoic acid (RA) levels are important for proper hair follicle behavior. Previous animal studies revealed increase in RA synthesis proteins and decrease in RA degradation proteins in AA patients when compared with controls. To evaluate cellular retinol-binding protein-1 expression in lesional skin of alopecia areata in comparison with controls, in an attempt to know its role in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata . Immunohistochemical expression of cellular retinol-binding protein-1 CRBP1 was evaluated in skin biopsies taken from lesions of alopecia areata in 30 patients and 10 normal biopsy specimens taken from skin of healthy controls (HC) who were within the same age and sex. CRBP1 expression was significantly increased in lesional alopecia areata skin in comparison with normal skin of controls (P<0.001*). Significant positive correlation was found between expression of CRBP-1 and percentage of hair loss in the scalp (SALT score; r=0.840, P=<0.001). These results may enhance the idea of the possible role of CRBP1 in the pathogenesis of AA, and ensuring the importance of its level in AA treatment.