Abstract: Cytokines are small molecular peptides or glycoproteins synthesized and secreted by a variety of tissue cells, which are mainly involved in regulating immune response, immune cell differentiation and mediating inflammatory response, and play an important role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. The update of interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-17, interleukin-15 and CCL22 in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and the new therapeutic targets are reviewed in this paper.

Key words: vitiligo, cytokines, pathogenesis, therapeutic targets