Publications by authors named "Maggi A Refat"

Chemokines play critical roles in the recruitment and activation of immune cells in both homeostatic and pathologic conditions. Here, we examined chemokine ligand-receptor pairs to better understand the immunopathogenesis of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), a complex autoimmune connective tissue disorder. We used suction blister biopsies to measure cellular infiltrates with spectral flow cytometry in the interface dermatitis reaction, as well as 184 protein analytes in interstitial skin fluid using Olink targeted proteomics.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study analyzed the immunological profiles of stable vitiligo patients undergoing MKTP, focusing on T-cell subsets and melanocyte quantification, to understand factors affecting post-surgery outcomes.
  • * Results showed that higher CD8+ T-cell levels in vitiligo lesions were linked to poorer repigmentation outcomes after MKTP, suggesting that this T-cell count could help identify better candidates for the procedure.
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Morphea is characterized by initial inflammation followed by fibrosis of the skin and soft tissue. Despite its substantial morbidity, the pathogenesis of morphea is poorly studied. Previous work showed that CXCR3 ligands CXCL9 and CXCL10 are highly upregulated in the sera and lesional skin of patients with morphea.

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Vitiligo is characterized by the development of depigmented macules and patches. Autoimmunity has been established as a factor in disease pathogenesis, leading to utilization of immunosuppressive agents. Topical immunosuppressants are commonly used; however, this treatment modality is often cumbersome and inefficient, as many patients have active disease with extensive body surface area involvement.

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Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by the targeted destruction of melanocytes by T cells. Cytokine signaling between keratinocytes and T cells results in CD8 T cell infiltration of vitiligo lesions, but the full scope of signals required to coordinate autoimmune responses is not completely understood. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing on affected and unaffected skin from patients with vitiligo, as well as healthy controls, to define the role of each cell type in coordinating autoimmunity during disease progression.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE) is a group of autoimmune skin disorders characterized by similar skin inflammation and antibody presence.
  • The condition involves various immune cells infiltrating the skin due to genetic and environmental factors.
  • The review focuses on the clinical aspects of CLE, the underlying immune system involvement, and recent advancements in treatment options.
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Background: The shared medical appointment (SMA) allows patients with a similar diagnosis to be simultaneously cared for and educated by 1 provider, which has had success in dermatology and other fields of specialty. The SMA provides a potential solution to improve patient access to dermatologists.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to implement the SMA for patients with vitiligo and compare it to traditional appointments with regard to patient satisfaction, time to appointment, number of new patients seen per month, and generated revenue.

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Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease of the skin mediated by CD8 T cells that kill melanocytes and create white spots. Skin lesions in vitiligo frequently return after discontinuing conventional treatments, supporting the hypothesis that autoimmune memory is formed at these locations. We found that lesional T cells in mice and humans with vitiligo display a resident memory (T) phenotype, similar to those that provide rapid, localized protection against reinfection from skin and mucosal-tropic viruses.

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Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which cutaneous depigmentation occurs. Existing therapies are often inadequate. Prior reports have shown benefit of the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.

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