title: Interleukin-6: a possible inflammatory link between vitiligo and type 1 diabetes.
abstract: Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder of unknown aetiology, but it has been reported in association with other autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Vitiligo and T1D share a common theory of autoimmunity, but still an inflammatory link between them remains to be investigated. This study investigates the status and contribution of the inflammatory markers tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 in patients with vitiligo, T1D and vitiligo-associated T1D (Vt-T1D). The data showed that sera from Vt-T1D patients (n = 21) had higher levels of TNFα, IL-6 and IL-1β compared with vitiligo patients (n = 39), T1D patients (n = 37) or controls (n = 42). Interestingly, serum levels of IL-6 were found to be significantly higher in Vt-T1D patients compared with the levels of TNFα and IL-1β. These data also showed that IL-6 was high in Vt patients as compared to the levels of TNFa and L-1β, whereas in T1D patients, IL-6 and TNFα were almost the same but were higher than IL-1β. In conclusion, this is the first study to show an inflammatory link between vitiligo and T1D. The data conclude that IL-6 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Vt-T1D patients and is likely to gain favour as a therapeutic target in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Qassim University, Buraidah, KSA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farhan
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Al-Shobaili
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Salloom
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Meki
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rasheed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C052994:interleukin-1beta (163-171)