title: Involvement of T cells in early evolving segmental vitiligo.
abstract: Recent studies have suggested an overlapping autoimmune mechanism between segmental vitiligo (SV) and nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV). Although T-cell infiltration is observed in the margins of active lesions in NSV, the histopathological characteristics of the active margin of SV are not well known. To determine if T-cell inflammatory responses are present in the active margin of SV lesions, biopsies were taken from the active margin of a lesion in 12 patients with early or actively spreading SV and compared with a normal control sample (on the symmetrical, opposite site of the same dermatome). The samples were stained for CD4, CD8, CD25 and interferon-γ. Lymphocytic infiltration was seen in 70% of patients. CD4+ T cells infiltrated the dermis, while CD8+ T cells were present in the epidermis or attached to the basal layer. The increase in the number of CD8+ T cells was significant (P < 0.04), while CD4+ or CD25+ T cells also appeared to be increased in number, but this was not significant. These results suggest that SV also has an autoimmune mechanism in the early evolving stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inha University Hospital, Graduate School of Medical Science, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Severance Hospital, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inha University Hospital, Graduate School of Medical Science, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Korea Institute of Vitiligo Research and Drs Woo and Hann's Skin Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007371:Interferon-gamma