573 | id == 573
573 | category_id == 30
573 | category_order == 27
573 | category_name == Hair Loss
573 | category_color == #C47AC0
573 | slug == CTLA4-alopecia-areata
573 | title == An Essential Immune Checkpoint in Alopecia Areata (CTLA4)
573 | meta_description == CTLA4 helps suppress immune cell activity. Variants of CTLA4 have been associated with alopecia areata. Read more here.
573 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong><em>CTLA4</em> codes for a protein that helps suppress the activity of immune cells. Read more to learn about how variants of <em>CTLA4</em> may increase&nbsp;the odds of alopecia areata.&nbsp;</strong></p>
573 | overall_score_text == Your Hair Loss Score (based on CTLA4 gene)
573 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/CTLA4-Alopecia-areata.jpg
573 | author_id == 14
573 | author_name == Shany Lahan
573 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
573 | author_order == 5
573 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
573 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
573 | reviewer == None
573 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
573 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
573 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
573 | publish_date == 2020
573 | publish_date == 12
573 | publish_date == 29
573 | avg_rating == 5.0
573 | tags_id == 88
573 | tags_name == Alopecia Areata
573 | tags_id == 926
573 | tags_name == Autoantibodies
573 | tags_id == 33
573 | tags_name == Autoimmunity
573 | tags_id == 226
573 | tags_name == CTLA4 gene
573 | tags_id == 1032
573 | tags_name == Hair Follicle
573 | tags_id == 1029
573 | tags_name == Hair Loss
573 | tags_id == 952
573 | tags_name == Immune Checkpoint
573 | tags_id == 24
573 | tags_name == Inflammation
573 | tags_id == 442
573 | tags_name == T Cells
573 | tags_id == 104
573 | tags_name == Tregs
573 | permissions_favorite == False
573 | permissions_rate == False
573 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene codes for a protein that suppresses the activity of immune cells. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in alopecia areata by decreasing activity or production of CTLA-4. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by increasing CTLA-4 production.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CTLA4</em></strong><strong> and Alopecia Areata</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Immune cells employ &ldquo;checkpoints&rdquo; -- proteins that regulate components of the immune system -- to prevent inaccurate targeting or excessive activation of the immune response [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7584144/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">An example of an immune checkpoint is the receptor CTLA-4. When activated, CTLA-4 sends a signal that prevents or stops </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lymphocytes/#Types_of_Lymphocytes"><span style="font-weight: 400;">T cell</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> activity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1493"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7584144/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA-4 may be necessary for the development of </span><a href="https://selfhack.com/blog/treg/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">regulatory T cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhack.com/blog/treg/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tregs</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">). Tregs are involved in suppressing the formation of autoantibodies, or antibodies that recognize the body&rsquo;s own tissues. In this manner, Tregs may function to prevent autoimmune disorders [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9558090/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3374037/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3342324/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15838509/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA-4 is also required to suppress the growth and activity of T cells that release inflammatory proteins [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23340277/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19930661/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variants of </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/ctla4/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">have been associated with <em>alopecia areata</em>, an autoimmune disorder characterized by immune attacks against hair follicles. </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants may lower the activity or production of CTLA-4, resulting in the production of autoantibodies and inflammatory proteins [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1493"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944098/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/30423114"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4467986/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3605761/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/23143596"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>CTLA4</em></strong><strong> Results for Alopecia Areata</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*1107120982588423*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CTLA4 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs1024161/"><strong>rs1024161</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921172/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Higher odds of alopecia areata, relative to &lsquo;C&rsquo;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Lower odds of alopecia areata, relative to &lsquo;T&rsquo;</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Other Important SNPs:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CTLA4 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs231775/"><strong>rs231775</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4451186/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Higher odds of alopecia areata</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Not associated with alopecia areata</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*7763093505665075*</p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recommendations for Managing Alopecia Areata</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*7222681529593146*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Stress Management</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was observed to lower the production of Tregs that display CTLA-4 on their surfaces, suggesting that managing stress may help counter risk variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CTLA4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20015595/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although it has no direct effect on male-pattern baldness, stress is a well-known trigger of other types of hair loss such as diffuse hair loss (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">telogen</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">effluvium</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">), patchy hair loss (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">alopecia</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">areata</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">), and hair-pulling disorder (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">trichotillomania</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">). In turn, hair loss can be a source of stress and ultimately worsen the severity of these conditions [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9676515/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19487557/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29212074/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15117365/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30152568/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16897695/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We&zwnj; &zwnj;recommend&zwnj; &zwnj;addressing&zwnj; &zwnj;sources&zwnj; &zwnj;of&zwnj; &zwnj;stress&zwnj; &zwnj;in&zwnj; &zwnj;your&zwnj; &zwnj;life,&zwnj; &zwnj;either&zwnj; &zwnj;by&zwnj; &zwnj;taking&zwnj; &zwnj;up&zwnj; &zwnj;a&zwnj; &zwnj;stress-busting&zwnj; </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">hobby&zwnj; &zwnj;(such&zwnj; &zwnj;as&zwnj; &zwnj;&zwnj;</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-yoga/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">yoga</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">&zwnj;&zwnj;</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &zwnj;or&zwnj; &zwnj;&zwnj;</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/meditation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">meditation</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">&zwnj;</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">)&zwnj; &zwnj;or&zwnj; &zwnj;seeking&zwnj; &zwnj;professional&zwnj; &zwnj;help.&zwnj;&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Stress management may help manage alopecia areata by increasing the production of CTLA-4 and Tregs.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Zinc</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/literally-everything-wanted-know-zinc-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zinc</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may promote the development of CTLA-4-displaying Tregs [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27260002/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One study associated patchy (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">alopecia</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">areata</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) and diffuse (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">telogen</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">effluvium</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) hair loss with low blood zinc levels. The authors suggested that disturbed zinc metabolism plays a key role in these conditions [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3870206/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In line with this, zinc supplementation improved both conditions in 2 small trials of people who also had zinc deficiency. In a trial of women complaining of hair loss, zinc was especially effective when combined with calcium </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-11-proven-uses-vitamin-b5/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pantothenate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20523772/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22741940/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5463555/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Good dietary sources of zinc include red meat, seafood, dairy products, nuts, legumes, and whole grains [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11053529/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Zinc may help manage alopecia areata by increasing the production of CTLA-4 and Tregs.&nbsp;</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Vitamin D</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies have demonstrated that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may increase the production of CTLA-4, as well as promote the development of regulatory immune cells [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26134669/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31379807/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31731231/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31824622/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Low blood vitamin D levels have been associated with increased incidence, severity, and duration of alopecia areata in multiple studies. <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/">Sunlight</a> exposure is our primary vitamin D source, but deficient people may need to take oral supplements [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25058999/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29633370/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29869122/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29243839/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31110371/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a>, <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a trial focused on alopecia areata patients, a synthetic derivative of vitamin D (calcipotriol) applied topically for 12 weeks resulted in a minimum of 50% hair regrowth in 75% of patients, and full regrowth in 27% of patients. Both this chemical and UV-B radiation (which stimulates vitamin D production) were similarly effective in another trial [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26091388/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31236672/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Oral and topical vitamin D may help manage alopecia areata by increasing the production of CTLA-4 and regulatory immune cells. </span></p>
573 | content_snp_table_1107120982588423_key == 1107120982588423
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573 | content_snp_table_1107120982588423_hidden == False
573 | content_learn_more_7763093505665075_key == 7763093505665075
573 | content_learn_more_7763093505665075_blur == True
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573 | content_learn_more_7763093505665075_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your CTLA4 gene is associated with somewhat higher odds of alopecia areata, relative to other variants. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of alopecia areata; it’s just one gene related to it. Managing stress, consuming zinc-rich foods, and applying topical vitamin D may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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573 | content_recommendation_7222681529593146_blur == True
573 | content_recommendation_7222681529593146_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs1024161,rs231775
rsStatus = rs1024161,,chr2,203857029,T,A,C,,25,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs231775,CTLA4,chr2,203867991,A,G,T,,20,20,HET
