Alopecia
Dollee Porter and Will Hendren
Chromosome and the Affected Gene
Disease bascis
-Symptoms: The main symptom is hair loss, but anxiety, itching, and small dents in nails are also common symptoms.
-Cell Signaling Pathway Involved: That study suggested that a “danger signal” in the hair follicles of the patients attracts the immune cells to the follicle and sparks the attack. A specific set of T cells responsible for attacking the hair follicles.T cells are instructed to attack and identified several key immune pathways.
-Correct Mechanism Involved: The hair follicles function normally allowing the T cells to not interact unless it is needed.
-Incorrect Mechanism: The hair follicles send danger signals when there is really no threat to the follicles and then that engages the T cells to attack.
How the Disease Affects You
A person affected by alopecia
Tissues affected by alopecia
Cell signaling pathway
Current Direction of Research
Picture on right: Hair follicle (blue) being attacked by T cells (green)