The level of bFGF and TGF-beta 1 in alopecia areata patients’ sera and their role in angiogenesis

Alopecia areata (AA) is regarded as a non-scarring, inflammatory disease of the hair follicle. The pathophysiology of abnormal hair cycle with premature catagen development in this disease remains unknown. Angiogenesis is defined as the growth of new capillaries from pre-existing blood vessels. In the adult skin this process physiologically occurs in the dermis around anagen hair follicles. Furthermore, anagen follicles possess angiogenic properties. The data suggest that inhibiting angiogenesis leads to retardation of anagen development and initiation of catagen phase ally causing hair loss. The aim of our study was to assess the level of bFGF and TGF-beta 1 in alopecia areata patients’ serum. There were no significant difference in bFGF and TGF-beta 1 levels between alopecia areata patients’ and normal controls’ serum. Nevertheless, further studies on the role of angiogenesis in AA pathogenesis should be conducted to establish the novel therapeutic options for AA.