title: Serum levels of functional T-regs in vitiligo: our experience and mini-review of the literature.
abstract: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentary skin disorder due to the loss of cutaneous melanocytes or alteration in melanocyte function, affecting over 0.5% of the world population. The exact cause of melanocyte loss in non-segmental vitiligo is still debatable, but many observations have pointed to the main role of cellular immunity. Earlier evidence has shown that depigmenting vitiligo skin is accompanied by CD8+ T cytotoxic lymphocytes infiltrates at the dermal-epidermal junction. Dysregulation of Tregs may be one of the factors that can break tolerance to melanocyte self-antigens and contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo. The objectives of the present study were to provide evidence of the presence of a functional defect and decrease of peripheral regulatory T cells in patients affected by vitiligo, supporting the hypothesis of their involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease, opening new possibilities to advance therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Institut Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale del Policlinico, 155 00133 Rome, Italy. antoniorichetta@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richetta
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Epiro
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campoli
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giancristoforo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mattozzi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macaluso
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luci
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantisani
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanniello
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zampetti
authors.forename: Bernardina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milana
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morrone
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calvieri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000737:chemistry; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors
keywords: CD4CD25 FOXP3; T-regs; autoimmune disease; vitiligo