Impact of HLA-G in the outcome of vitiligo in Tunisian patients

• Main Authors: Jalel Akrem (Author), Ridha Aouadi (Author), Laurent Duboisier (Author), Philippe Moureaux (Author), Hamdaoui M (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<b>Background:</b> The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system in the skin coordinates the pigmentation and immune response and could be implicated in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Human leukocyte antigen HLA-G is a nonclassic, major histocompatibility complex class I molecule expressed in the extravillous cytotrophoblast at the feto-maternal interface. It is known to protect the fetus from maternal cellular immunity. Analogically, it could be implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as vitiligo.<b> Aims:</b> To compare the expression of HLA-G between vitiligo patients and healthy controls. <b> Materials and</b> <b> Methods:</b> In the present study, 22 vitiligo patients and 24 healthy controls were investigated to look for a possible correlation between HLA-G expression and this pathology. Expression of HLA-G in cutaneous biopsy specimens was investigated by immunohistochemical analysis. <b> Results:</b> HLA-G was detected in the biopsy specimens of 3 (13&#x0025;) out of 22 patients. This number was significantly higher in healthy controls 18 (75&#x0025;) out of 24 as compared to vitiligo patients (<i> P</i> &lt; 0.001). <b> Conclusion:</b> There is significant negative correlation between HLA-G expression and vitiligo. In our mind, upregulation of HLA-G expression in lesional skin could be local (superficial expression) or systemic (soluble HLA-G isoforms) compensation to restore normal pigmentation in lesions.

Item Description

0019-5154
1998-3611