Abstract

Co-Occurrence of Lichen Planus and Alopecia Areata: A Possible Role of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells

Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (pDCs), also called Natural Interferon (IFN)-producing cells, represent a specialized cell type within the innate immune system that are normally found in lymphoid tissues and possess both antigenpresenting and immune markers. These cells release high amounts of type I interferon (IFN-I) providing, protective immunity at the level of the skin by regulated sensing of microbial- or self-nucleic acids. Upon skin damage, excessive sensing by pDCs may elicit IFN-driven inflammatory/autoimmune skin disorders. IFN-I production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells plays an immunogenic role in autoimmune skin disorders. We present a case report of the coexistence of two common autoimmune skin conditions, lichen planus (LP) and alopecia areata (AA), and hypothesize a possible role of shared plasmacytoid dendritic cells - interferon (pDC-IFN) pathway, in various autoimmune skin disorders.

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