Preclinical evidence that the PPARγ modulator, N‐Acetyl‐GED‐0507‐34‐Levo, may protect human hair follicle epithelial stem cells against lichen planopilaris‐associated damage

: Permanent hair loss in lichen planopilaris (LPP) results from the depletion of keratin 15 (K15+) epithelial stem cells (eSCs) localized in the bulge of hair follicles (HFs) that have lost their physiological immune privilege (IP), were attacked by a cytotoxic CD8+T-cell- driven inflammatory infiltrate, and have undergone apoptosis or pathological epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT). Currently, only palliative off-label treatments exist that reduce symptoms, slow down hair loss spread but do not reliably and effectively stop disease progression without unacceptable adverse side effects (5). One example being pioglitazone (oral administration), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ agonist.