Innate Immunity Has a Role in Vitiligo Pathogenesis

Innate immunity may play a role in susceptibility to vitiligo, a new study showed.

Rasha Turky Abdel-Razek Abdel-Aziz, of Minia University, Minia, Egypt, and colleagues recently published the results of a cross-sectional comparative study that showed a significant difference in the distribution of the Toll-like receptor (TLR)9 rs187084 between patients with vitiligo and those without.

In the study, the researchers used genomic DNA from the peripheral blood of 30 patients with vitiligo and 20 healthy control patients. The DNA was assessed for TLR9 rs187084 gene polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques.

The analysis showed significant discrepancies in the frequencies of genotypes between patients with vitiligo and controls (P<0.001). Specifically, the CC genotype of rs187084 was more prevalent in patients without vitiligo, and the TT genotype was more prevalent in patients with vitiligo.

The researchers also noted certain associations with disease subtypes. The homozygous CC genotype of TLR9 rs187084 was found mostly in non-segmental vitiligo cases, and the heterozygous CT genotype group comprised 53.8% of patients with non-segmental vitiligo and 46.2% of patients with segmental vitiligo.

“Due to the limited sample size, along with the methodological constraints of PCR-RFLP, there is a need for further research to validate our findings and to better understand the mechanisms through which different SNPs influence TLR9 gene function,” the researchers concluded.

Abdel-Aziz RTA, et al. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. Published online March 11, 2025. doi:10.25259/IJDVL_1041_2024