皮膚科および皮膚科疾患ジャーナル

Genetics of Vitiligo: An Insight

Abstract

Shital Poojary

Vitiligo is the most common depigmenting disorder having a major impact on the quality of life of patients. Despite continued progress toward an elucidation of the biochemical, genetic and immunopathological pathways in vitiligo, a definitive cure remains elusive. During the past few decades, advances in the field of molecular genetics have enriched us in understanding the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo. Several candidate genes have been associated with susceptibility to vitiligo. They include genes important for melanin biosynthesis, response to oxidative stress and/or regulation of autoimmunity. A recent genome-wide scan performed on families with numerous members presenting with vitiligo has clearly revealed linkage of susceptibility loci especially autoimmune susceptibility loci. Genetic studies have helped us identify not only the natural course and clinical aspects of vitiligo but also the shed profound light on the inverse relationship between genetic susceptibility to GV and malignant melanoma. In the future, dissection of the complex genetic architecture of vitiligo will provide new approaches for treatment and prevention. In this article, we review the genes involved in vitiligo and also focus on the pathogenic mechanisms of the same.