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HLA-A2 Restricted, Melanocyte-Specific CD8+ T Lymphocytes Detected in Vitiligo Patients are Related to Disease Activity and are Predominantly Directed Against MelanA/MART1.
- Source :
-
Journal of Investigative Dermatology . Jun2001, Vol. 116 Issue 6, p891-897. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2001
-
Abstract
- Vitiligo is a skin and hair disorder characterized by circumscribed depigmented lesions due to lack of melanocytes in the respective areas. It has been suggested that vitiligo is caused by an autoimmune-mediated destruction of melanocytes. Recently, the presence of a high frequency of skin-homing melanocyte-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with vitiligo was reported. Our study examines the frequency of melanocyte-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitiligo patients and its relationship to disease activity. Thirty-two patients with moderate to active vitiligo and 17 control subjects were included. Melanocyte specific reactive CD8+ T cells were identified by enzyme-linked immunospot assay after stimulation with five peptides from gp100, four peptides from MelanA/MART1, and two peptides from tyrosinase. In selected patients, intracellular interferon-γ staining for the detection of specific reactive CD8+ T cells was additionally performed. In seven of 10 patients (70%) with actively progressive disease CD8+ T cells directed against melanocyte epitopes were detected, whereas only in four of 22 patients (18%) with moderate disease activity such specific reactivity was found. MelanA/MART1 peptides were immunodominant in nine patients reacting against EAAGIGILTV and three patients reacting against ILTVILGVL. Intracellular interferon-γ staining confirmed the findings obtained by the enzyme-linked immunospot technique. The present study supports the hypothesis that vitiligo is a cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune disease. The presence of melanocyte-specific reactive CD8+ T cells seems to be closely related to disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *VITILIGO
*MELANOCYTES
*T cells
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0022202X
- Volume :
- 116
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 4617497
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2001.01363.x