GENETIC-CONTROL OF CYTOKINES - CYTOKINE GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN ALOPECIA-AREATA

It is likely that alopecia areata is a multifactorial disease determin ed by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The interact ion of susceptibility genes with environmental factors gives rise to t he disease phenotype, and then genetic modifying factors determine the extent of the inflammatory response and thereby the clinical outcome. Cytokines regulate the inflammatory response. Polymorphisms in these genes may therefore determine the amount of a cytokine that is produce d in response to an environmental trigger such as a bacterial or viral infection.