Increased serum levels of interleukin-23 circulating in patients with non-segmental generalized vitiligo.

INTRODUCTION: Vitiligo is a common progressive depigmentation of the skin due to selective destruction of melanocytes. Nowadays increasing evidences support the hypothesis of an autoimmune etiology. METHODS: In order to sustain the role of T-helper-17 lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, we measured the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-23 (an important regulator of this subset) using a quantitative enzyme immunoassay technique in 12 males and 16 females (ages ranging from 18 to 58 years) affected by non-segmental vitiligo and compared the results with a group of healthy donors. RESULTS: IL-23 serum levels were significantly higher in patients with vitiligo as compared with controls. There was a significant positive correlation of IL-23 serum levels with disease duration and extent of vitiligo and disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: The inhibition of IL-23 might be a novel strategy in the therapy of autoimmune inflammatory diseases like vitiligo.