Patients With Vitiligo Immunoglobulin, Complement And Complement Activation Changes In The Composition

Objective To quantitate the serum and tissue fluid levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 in vitiligo patients and controls, and observe C5b-9 expression in vitiligo lesions, in order to determine relationship between abnormal immune system function and vitiligo path-ogenesis.Methods Serum and tissue fluid levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 were measured by nephelometry, C5b-9 expression was detected immunohistochemically in frozen-sections by two-step method.Results There were no statistically significantly differences in serum and tissue fluid levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 between vilitigo patients and controls. C5b-9 was expressed in all vitiligo lesions (9/9). The great mass of positive stains were observed in basal cell layer, others in prickle cell layer and papillary dermis. Only one specimen was showed positive stain in 10 normal skins(l/10). C5b-9 deposits incidence was significantly higher in vilitigo lesions than in normal skins (F<0. 01).Conclusion According to our results, we postulated that there was an abnormal immune reaction in vitiligo lesions, which was associated with complements and then formed membrane attack complex(C5b-9). C5b-9 may injury or destroy melanocyte and lead to de-pigmentation. These results suggested that immunological factor may play an important role in vitiligo genesis and progression.