Novel immunological and genetic factors associated with vitiligo: A review

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Novel immunological and genetic factors associated with vitiligo: A review Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Apr;21(4):312. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.9743. Epub 2021 Feb 1. ABSTRACT Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by depigmentation of the skin due to a lack of melanin. This condition affects men and woman of all ages and its incidence is not restricted by ethnicity or region. Vitiligo is a multifactorial disease, in which melanocytes, which serve important functions in skin pigmentation and immune processes, are impaired. There is sufficient evidence that immunological and genetic factors are primarily responsible for the destruction and dysfunction of melanocytes. Therefore, genetic DNA sequence variants that participate in skin homeostasis, pigmentation and immune response regulation, as well as altered expression patterns, may contribute to the risk of developing vitiligo. The current review presented an overview of the mechanism of pigmentation and of currently known factors involved in depigmentation, as well as the classification, epidemiology, associated comorbidities, risk factors, immunopathogenesis and several genetic and molecular changes associated with vitiligo. PMID:33717255 | PMC:PMC7885061 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.9743 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.