Clinical characteristics and immune profiles of patients with immune-mediated alopecia associated with COVID-19 vaccinations.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The clinical characteristics and pathomechanism for immune-mediated alopecia following COVID-19 vaccinations are not clearly characterized.

OBJECTIVE:

We investigated the causality and immune mechanism of COVID-19 vaccines-related alopecia areata (AA).

STUDY DESIGN:

27 new-onset of AA patients after COVID-19 vaccinations and 106 vaccines-tolerant individuals were enrolled from multiple medical centers for analysis.

RESULTS:

The antinuclear antibody, total IgE, granulysin, and PARC/CCL18 as well as peripheral eosinophil count were significantly elevated in the patients with COVID-19 vaccines-related AA compared with those in the tolerant individuals (P = 2.03 × 10-5-0.039). In vitro lymphocyte activation test revealed that granulysin, granzyme B, and IFN-γ released from the T cells of COVID-19 vaccines-related AA patients could be significantly increased by COVID-19 vaccine excipients (polyethylene glycol 2000 and polysorbate 80) or spike protein (P = 0.002-0.04).

CONCLUSIONS:

Spike protein and excipients of COVID-19 vaccines could trigger T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, which contributes to the pathogenesis of immune-mediated alopecia associated with COVID-19 vaccines.

• Authors: Chuang-Wei Wang, Ming-Ying Wu, Chun-Bing Chen, Wei-Chen Lin, Jennifer Wu, Chun-Wei Lu, Wei-Ti Chen, Fang-Ying Wang, Rosaline Chung-Yee Hui, Min-Hui Chi, Tsu-Man Chiu, Ya-Ching Chang, Jing Yi Lin, Yang Yu-Wei Lin, Wan-Ting Tsai, Shuen-Iu Hung, Wen-Hung Chung
• Journal: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) (Clin Immunol) Vol. 255 Pg. 109737 (10 2023) ISSN: 1521-7035 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 37586672 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Chemical References

• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
• spike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Topics

• Humans
• COVID-19 Vaccines (adverse effects)
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
• COVID-19
• Alopecia Areata (etiology, pathology)
• Vaccination (adverse effects)