Investigation of genetic variations of IL17 for vitiligo disease

Abstract

Objective: Vitiligo is a disorder of pigmentation characterized by the presence of depigmented skin macules due to a chronic and progressive loss of melanocytes from the cutaneous epidermis. Among many different etiologic hypotheses that have been suggested so far for vitiligo, the most compelling one involves a combination of environmental and genetic factors that cause autoimmune melanocyte destruction. The purpose of this study is then to determine whether there is any relationship between vitiligo and IL17 gene Glu126Gly, His161Arg and G197A polymorphisms. Design: Controlled prospective study Setting: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bulent Ecevit University Subjects: Genetic polymorphisms of IL17 gene were detected by using polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism in 86 vitiligo patients and 90 healthy controls. Intervention: For genetic analysis, 5 ml of venous blood was drawn into tubes containing EDTA from each patient. Main outcome measures: IL17 gene Glu126Gly, His161Arg and G197A polymorphisms in vitiligo patients Results: As a result of our study, we have found a significant relation between His161Arg polymorphism of IL17F gene and vitiligo patients (p = 0.045). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the IL17F His161Arg gene polymorphism has a protective role in susceptibility to vitiligo. This may be regarded as hypothesis-generating and should further be investigated in independent studies.