New insights into human hair: SAXS, SEM, TEM and EDX for Alopecia Areata investigations

PeerJ

article

Adina Coroaba¹  Anca E. Chiriac²  Liviu Sacarescu³  Tudor Pinteala⁴  Bogdan Minea⁵  Sorin-Alexandru Ibanescu¹  Mihaela Pertea⁶  Aurelian Moraru⁸  Irina Esanu^1,10  Stelian S. Maier^1,11  Anca Chiriac¹  Mariana Pinteala¹ 

[1] Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry;Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy;Department of Inorganic Polymers, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry;Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy;Department of Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy;Department of Surgery I, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy;Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery, “Sf. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital;Romanian Academy;“Dr. Iacob Czihac” Military Emergency Clinical Hospital;Department of Internal Medicine I, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy;Faculty of Textiles, Leather and Industrial Management, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi;Department of Dermatophysiology, “Apollonia” University;Department of Dermatology, Nicolina Medical Center

关键词: Alopecia areata;    Scanning electron microscopy;    Transmission electron microscopy;    Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy;    Microbeam small angle X-ray scattering;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.8376

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background Alopecia areata (AA) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease and affects up to 2% of the population. There is a need for a more profound and rigorous understanding of the structure and composition of human hair affected by AA in order to manage this disease. The aim of this article is to understand the effects of AA on the structure and composition of human hair. Methods Several physico-chemical investigation methods, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and microbeam Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), were used to analyze human hair samples obtained from healthy donors and patients with AA. Results SEM revealed more severe hair surface defects for the white regrown hair (W-AA) samples. TEM showed the presence of air-like vesicles located in the endocuticle of regrown hair. Analysis of ultrathin sections of W-AA showed the existence of empty vesicles and smaller melanin granules compared to control samples. SAXS demonstrated that unaffected hair of patients with AA (B-AA) and W-AA melanin aggregates are different in their sizes and shapes compared to the control samples. EDX data showed that W-AA elemental composition was significantly different from the other sample groups. Our study showcases promising non-invasive techniques for a better and more accurate understanding of changes in the internal structure and composition of hair affected by AA.

【 授权许可】

CC BY