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

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*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

7 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number109737
Pages (from-to)109737
JournalClinical Immunology
Volume255
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Keywords

  • Alopecia areata
  • Autoimmune disease
  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • Granulysin
  • Lymphocyte activation test
  • Polyethylene glycol
  • Spike protein
  • Vaccination/adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Alopecia Areata/etiology
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects

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