In an article that appeared on Wednesday’s publication of scientific journal “Nature,” Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers uncovered the genetic basis for the autoimmune hair loss disease, alopecia areata.

This discovery is the first step toward finding treatment for the disease that affects 5.3 million Americans.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune skin disease that causes partial or total loss of hair on the scalp and possibly other parts of the body. Normally, it begins with small, round patches on the scalp, but can progress to total scalp hair loss, called alopecia totalis, or even loss of all body hair, in alopecia universalis.

The disease is highly unpredictable, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, as hair can grow back or fall out at any time. The severity and course of the disease varies greatly from person to person.

There is currently no cure found for alopecia areata. Part of the reason is because past findings have revealed that genes associated with alopecia areata are also associated with other autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

However, the researchers at Columbia, with the help of patient data from the National Alopecia Areata Registry, have successfully identified eight genes associated with alopecia areata, including one that plays a role in the onset of the disease, known as the ULBP3 gene.

Led by Dr. Angela M. Christiano, the researchers discovered that ULBP3 is not normally found in hair follicles, but is abundant in those with alopecia areata. This discovery can help them develop drugs that directly “target the mechanism behind the disease,” said Dr. Christiano.

Two other genes were also found to be expressed in the hair follicles, while the other five genes detected are involved with the body’s immune response, according to a press release issued by Columbia University Medical Center.

In addition, Dr. Christiano was able to find a correlation between the number of genes and the severity of the disease, which will help patients of alopecia areata predict how their disease will progress.

“People who carried 13-14 genes had disease that did not progress, while those with 16 or more most often progressed to alopecia universalis,” reported CUMC.

President and CEO of the National Aleopecia Areata Foundation, Vicki Kalabokes was thrilled at news of the groundbreaking discovery. “This research is very exciting as alopecia areata affects a huge number of people worldwide, and there are very few treatments for it,” she said.

"The research conducted by CUMC will provide much hope to those suffering from the disease. “Hair loss is life-altering – sufferers, especially children, experience social stigma," Kalabokes said. "It affects their quality of life and can lead to long-term psychosocial impact.”