The effect of anti IL-4,IL-13 receptor antibody on alopecia areata associated with atopic dermatitis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08804
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
• Principal Investigator: Nakamura Motonobu 産業医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (30303837)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 円形脱毛症 / アトピー性皮膚炎 / インターロイキン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Currently topical therapies, ultraviolet irradiations and injection therapies are used for the patients with alopecia areata. However, some cases are refractory to all these treatments. We injected anti-interleukin (IL-)4 and IL-13 receptor antibody for the patients with alopecia areata associated with atopic dermatitis. There were three groups of patients. Group 1 patients responded well to the anti-IL-4,IL-13 antibody injections. Group 2 cases responded transiently well to the anti-IL-4,IL-13 antibody injections for 3-4 months and aftermath hair shafts disappeared. Group 3 patients did not show any hair growth after anti-IL-4,IL-13 antibody injections. There was no statistically significant difference in the effect of anti-IL-4,IL-13 antibody on the severity of the atopic dermatitis between each group.

Free Research Field

皮膚科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

円形脱毛症は既存の外用、内服、紫外線治療などで改善せず、難治な症例が多い。今回の研究で抗IL-4、IL-13受容体抗体が円形脱毛症に効果を示すことが明らかとなり、新しい治療法の１つとなる可能性が示された。また、アトピー性皮膚炎には抗IL-4、IL-13受容体抗体が奏効し、円形脱毛症には効果を示さなかった症例があることから円形脱毛症の病態、発症機序におけるIL-4、IL-13の役割についての新しい機序がある可能性が明らかとなった。