title: Genetic Susceptibility to Vitiligo: GWAS Approaches for Identifying Vitiligo Susceptibility Genes and Loci.
abstract: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease with a strong genetic component, characterized by areas of depigmented skin resulting from loss of epidermal melanocytes. Genetic factors are known to play key roles in vitiligo through discoveries in association studies and family studies. Previously, vitiligo susceptibility genes were mainly revealed through linkage analysis and candidate gene studies. Recently, our understanding of the genetic basis of vitiligo has been rapidly advancing through genome-wide association study (GWAS). More than 40 robust susceptible loci have been identified and confirmed to be associated with vitiligo by using GWAS. Most of these associated genes participate in important pathways involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Many susceptible loci with unknown functions in the pathogenesis of vitiligo have also been identified, indicating that additional molecular mechanisms may contribute to the risk of developing vitiligo. In this review, we summarize the key loci that are of genome-wide significance, which have been shown to influence vitiligo risk. These genetic loci may help build the foundation for genetic diagnosis and personalize treatment for patients with vitiligo in the future. However, substantial additional studies, including gene-targeted and functional studies, are required to confirm the causality of the genetic variants and their biological relevance in the development of vitiligo.
authors: Institute and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China.
authors: Changbing
authors: C
authors: Shen
authors: Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Gao
authors: Institute and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China.
authors: Yujun
authors: Y
authors: Sheng
authors: Institute and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China.
authors: Jinfa
authors: J
authors: Dou
authors: Institute and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China.
authors: Fusheng
authors: F
authors: Zhou
authors: Institute and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China.
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Zheng
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Randy
authors: R
authors: Ko
authors: Institute and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China.
authors: Xianfa
authors: X
authors: Tang
authors: Institute and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China.
authors: Caihong
authors: C
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Genetics and Renaissance Computing Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Xianyong
authors: X
authors: Yin
authors: Institute and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China.
authors: Liangdan
authors: L
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Dermatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital Beijing, China.
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Cui
authors: Institute and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical UniversityHefei, China; Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical UniversityHefei, China.
authors: Xuejun
authors: X
authors: Zhang
keywords: GWASs; Vitiligo; genes; genetic susceptibility; loci