Stratification of alopecia areata reveals involvement of CD4 T cell populations and altered faecal microbiota

Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune-mediated disease that causes non-scarring hair loss. Autoreactive CD8 T cells are key pathogenic effectors in the skin, and AA has been associated both with atopy and with perturbations in intestinal homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate mechanisms driving AA by characterizing the circulating immunophenotype and faecal microbiome, and by stratifying AA to understand how identified signatures associated with heterogeneous clinical features of the condition. Flow cytometric analyses identified alterations in circulating B cells and CD4 T cells, while 16S sequencing identified changes in alpha and beta diversity in the faecal microbiome in AA. The proportions of transitional and naïve B cells were found to be elevated in AA, particularly in AA samples from individuals with >50% hair loss and those with comorbid atopy, which is commonly associated with extensive hair loss. Although significant changes in circulating CD8 T cells were not observed, we found significant changes in CD4(+) populations. In individuals with <50% hair loss higher frequencies of CCR6(+)CD4 (“Th17”) and CCR6(+)CXCR3(+)CD4 (“Th1/17”) T cells were found. While microbial species richness was not altered, AA was associated with reduced evenness and Shannon diversity of the intestinal microbiota, again particularly in those with <50% hair loss. We have identified novel immunological and microbial signatures in individuals with alopecia areata. Surprisingly, these are associated with lower levels of hair loss, and may therefore provide a rationale for improved targeting of molecular therapeutics.