2014/02/14 by Marwa Abdallah, Ranya Lotfi, Wessam Othman +1 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Immunology and Microbiology · #Immunotherapy and Immune Responses #T-cell and B-cell Immunology #melanin and skin pigmentation
paper · doi:10.1111/ijd.12160
crossref issued 2014/02/14 · crossref published 2014/02/14 · crossref published-online 2014/02/14 · openalex publication_date 2014/02/14 · crossref created 2014/02/17 · crossref published-print 2014/08/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · crossref deposited 2023/10/03 · crossref indexed 2026/08/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
BACKGROUND: The exact etiology of vitiligo remains obscure. Studies have indicated a role for cellular immunity in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. The aim of this study is to assess tissue FoxP3+ natural regulatory T-cells (Tregs), as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in active vs. stable nonsegmental vitiligo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical double-staining for expression of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells with immunostaining for expression of FoxP3 in lesional, marginal, and nonlesional skin of nonsegmental vitiligo was used to evaluate the abundance of Tregs among CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in active and stable cases of vitiligo. RESULTS: A significant increase in the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and a highly significant reduction in the number of FoxP3-expressing Tregs were detected in marginal skin in both stable and active vitiligo cases. FoxP3+ cells were decreased in tissue of patients with vitiligo compared with healthy controls. The number of CD8+ T-cells was increased in the epidermis and dermoepidermal junction (DEJ) in comparison with the number of CD4+ T-cells. Tregs were mostly present at the DEJ. CONCLUSION: The reduction in the number of FoxP3+ cells in the marginal skin suggests that this is the site where regulatory activity is needed to suppress the activity of helper and cytotoxic T-cells that are actively contributing to depigmentation.