title: First histopathological and immunophenotypic analysis of early dynamic events in a patient with segmental vitiligo associated with halo nevi.
abstract: Segmental vitiligo is often ascribed to the neurogenic theory of melanocyte destruction, although data about the initial etiopathological events are scarce. Clinical, histopathological and T-cell phenotypic analyses were performed during the early onset of a segmental vitiligo lesion in a patient with associated halo nevi. Histopathological analysis revealed a lymphocytic infiltrate, mainly composed of CD8+ T-cells and some CD4(+) T-cells around the dermo-epidermal junction. Flow cytometry analysis of resident T-cells revealed a clear enrichment of pro-inflammatory IFN-gamma producing CD8+ T-cells in lesional skin compared to the non-lesional skin. Using human leukocyte antigen-peptide tetramers (MART-1, tyrosinase, gp100), increased numbers of T cells, recognizing melanocyte antigens were found in segmental vitiligo lesional skin, as compared with the non-lesional skin and the blood. Our findings indicate that a CD8+ melanocyte specific T cell-mediated immune response, as observed in generalized vitiligo, also plays a role in segmental vitiligo with associated halo nevi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nanja A C
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: van Geel
authors.forename: Ilse G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Mollet
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Schepper
authors.forename: Esther P M
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Tjin
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vermaelen
authors.forename: Rachael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kupper
authors.forename: Rosalie M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Luiten
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001706:Biopsy; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002469:Cell Separation; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D055882:Nevus, Halo / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens