Abstract: Objective: To determine the effects of immune microenvironment on the expression of CXCL10 in melanocytes of vitiligo. Methods: Quantitative Real-Time PCR was performed to detect the expression of cytokines in skin lesions from progressive vitiligo patients. And then, a melanocyte cell line-PIG1 was stimulated by the cytokines that were up-regulated in vitiligo lesions and to measure the expression and secretion of CXCL10 in PIG1 cells. Results: The mRNA level of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-1β were up-regulated in the skin lesions of progressive vitiligo patients. When a combined stimulation with the three cytokines, the expression and secretion of CXCL10 in PIG1 cells were up-regulated significantly, in a time-dependent manner. Conclusion: Immune microenvironment in vitiligo can promote the expression and secretion of CXCL10 in melanocytes, which may contribute to the onset of vitiligo.

Key words: vitiligo, immune microenvironment, melanocytes, CXCL10