Detection of Some Factors Indicating Possible Autoimmunity (Antibodies against Melanocytes, Thyroglobulin, Thyroid Peroxidase, Stomach Parietal Cell, Microsomes) in Patients Suffering from Vitiligo

Overview

In a group of 43 patients suffering from vitiligo and 15 healthy persons some types of antibody activity with possible relationship to autoimmunity were measured. In indirect immunofluorescence method following antigenic substrates were used: allogenic melanocytes from tissue cultures (freshly enzymatically released cells without dendrites and separately melanocytes grown on cover glass with extended dendrites) for antibodies against melanocytes, rat stomach (for anti-microsomal antibodies and anti-parietal cells antibodies), rat liver (for antimitochondrial antibodies) and HEp-2 cells for antinuclear antibodies estimation. ELISA reactions were applied for anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies detection.Presence of anti-melanocyte antibodies was a common finding in vitiligo patients. The melanocytes grown on cover-glass with extended dendrites were more sensitive substrate (positive in 72,0 %) in comparison to freshly released spherical cells (positive in 48.8 %). However, also in healthy control group the fluorescence of melanocytes was observed (in 33,0 % and 20,0 % respectively). In most sera the level of antibodies was low and unequal, granular pattern of fluorescence in nuclei, cytoplasm, especially in perinuclear area and/or dendrites or in combined pattern was observed. For further differentiation studies with more precise methods will be needed. Parallel positive results of some antibody examinations were observed, e.g. against the thyroid gland peroxidase (27,9 %), parietal cells of the stomach (27,5 %) , microsomal (27,5 %), thyroglobulin (13,9 %). The antimitochondrial as well as antinuclear antibodies were in all vitiligo patients negative.

Key words:
vitiligo - autoimmunity - autoantibodies