title: A New View of Vitiligo: Looking at Normal-Appearing Skin.
abstract: Debate over the pathogenesis of vitiligo is still ongoing among scientists, with several hypotheses currently under consideration. The study by Wagner et al. in this issue focuses on the role of E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion in vitiliginous epidermis under oxidative and mechanical stress. Their work highlights how alterations in cell-cell adhesion across nonlesional melanocyte membranes in patients with vitiligo argue for primary intrinsic defects in the melanocytes.
authors.affiliation: Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: picardo@ifo.it.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardo
authors.affiliation: Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bastonini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins