Autoimmune aspects of vitiligo

Vitiligo is a depigmenting disorder characterised by the loss of melanocyte s from the cutaneous epidermis. Although the exact cause of the condition r emains to be established, an autoimmune aetiology has been suggested and se veral observations support this theory. These will be the topic of discussi on in this review. In brief, the disease is frequently associated with othe r disorders which have an autoimmune origin such as autoimmune thyroiditis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, circulating antibodie s and T lymphocytes which react against melanocyte antigens are present in the sera of a significant proportion of vitiligo patients compared with hea lthy individuals. Immunosuppressive therapies which are reasonably effectiv e in treating the condition, well-studied animal models of the disease as w ell as the association of vitiligo with MHC antigens, all add credence to t he hypothesis that immune mechanisms play a role in the development of viti ligo.