leptin and Alopecia-Areata

Leptin, produced by adipocytes, regulates metabolism, hunger, and immune response. The inflammatory role of leptin has been linked to autoimmune diseases. To assess leptin gene polymorphism and serum level in alopecia areata and their relation to metabolic syndrome (MS). This case-control study was conducted on 100 alopecia areata patients (50 with MS and 50 without MS) and 50 age- and gender-matched controls. Leptin gene polymorphism and serum level were assessed through the use of PCR and ELISA, respectively. GG genotype was the highest in AA with MS (54%), lower in AA without MS (42%), and the lowest in controls (20%). G allele was more expressed in cases, than in controls (

Topics: Alopecia Areata; Case-Control Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Leptin; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Alopecia areata (AA) is considered an organ-specific autoimmune disease of hair follicles. Adipose tissue plays a role in lipid metabolism and glucose metabolism and secretes adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin. Dysregulation in the adipokine balance may be associated with metabolic syndrome. We aimed to determine serum adipokine levels in AA patients and compare them with healthy controls, and to determine whether there was metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in the AA patients.. A total of 70 participants were included in the study. Patients were divided into two subgroups: patients with scalp hair loss were in subgroup 1 (AA1). Patients with beard and eyebrow hair loss were in subgroup 2 (AA2). Serum adiponectin, leptin, TNF-α, insulin, fasting glucose, TG, and HDL were analyzed.. Thirty-six (25 male, 11 female) patients with AA and 34 (18 male, 16 female) healthy subjects were included in the study. Metabolic syndrome was detected in three of the AA patients and in two of the healthy subjects. Serum leptin, adiponectin, TNF-α, TG, HDL, and insulin levels and HOMA-IR scores were not statistically significant in patients compared with control subjects, except fasting glucose levels (p = 0.035). However, serum leptin and adiponectin levels were significantly higher in AA1 (n = 25) subgroup compared with the control group (p = 0.029, p = 0.026 respectively). There was a statistically significant increase in the fasting glucose level, while there were no differences in other parameters between the AA2 (n = 11) subgroup and the control group.. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating that adiponectin and leptin probably has a role in the pathogenesis of AA with scalp hair involvement.

Topics: Adiponectin; Alopecia Areata; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Leptin; Male; Scalp

The frequent coexistence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in patients with alopecia areata may indicate the common pathogenetic pathway in these conditions with an important role of adipokines. The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum level of adiponectin, resistin and leptin in patients with alopecia areata in comparison to healthy controls. The study included 65 patients with alopecia areata and 71 healthy controls. The concentration of adipokines was determined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean concentrations of adiponectin and resistin were significantly lower in the sera of patients with alopecia areata when compared to healthy controls (7966 [Formula: see text] 4087 vs 9947 [Formula: see text] 5692 ng/ml; p = 0.0312 and 11.04 [Formula: see text] 3.88 vs 14.11 [Formula: see text] 8.69 ng/ml; p = 0.0176, respectively). A negative correlation between the serum level of adiponectin and severity of alopecia tool (SALT) score was observed (r = - 0.26; p < 0.05). The concentration of adiponectin was significantly lower in patients with alopecia universalis than in patients with patchy alopecia areata (4951 [Formula: see text] 2499 vs 8525 [Formula: see text] 4085 ng/ml; p = 0.0135). No significant difference in the serum concentration of leptin was observed between patients with alopecia areata and healthy controls. The negative correlation between the serum level of adiponectin and hair loss severity indicates that adiponectin may be considered a marker of hair loss severity in alopecia areata. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of resistin in patients with alopecia areata and its decreased level irregardless of severity or activity of the disease.

Topics: Adiponectin; Adult; Alopecia Areata; Biomarkers; Female; Humans; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Resistin; Severity of Illness Index