Oxidative stress and interleukin-1 beta in serum and skin lesions of patients with generalized vitligo

The etiology of vitiligo is unknown. Increased oxidant stress may explain melanocyte dysfunction and destruction. Increases in pro-oxidants as well as decreases in anti-oxidant agents have been reported in patients with vitiligo. In this study we investigated the role of oxidative stress by determining the levels of the free radical nitric oxide [NO] and the antioxidant systems: superoxide dismutase [SOD], and L-ascorbic acid in addition to interleukin-1beta [IL-1beta] in both serum and tissue of lesional skin in patients with generalized vitiligo. Levels of NO and IL-1beta were significantly higher in the serum and tissue of lesional skin of patient with generalized vitiligo compared to the control group. While L-ascorbic acid and superoxide dismutase levels were significantly reduced in patients compared to controls. Extent of vitiligo showed a significant positive correlation with tissue levels of IL-1beta. Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of generalized vitiligo with increased production of NO and decreased SOD activity and ascorbic acid levels. IL-1beta could have a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo possibly through the induction of NO production

Tissue levels of Interleukin-1 Beta are positively correlated with nitric oxide in patients with Generalized Vitiligo

Recent studies indicated that interleukin-1 beta [IL-1beta] enhance the activity of nitric oxide [NO] synthase resulting in release of excess amounts of NO. The later has been implicated in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. The objective of this study was to determine the correlations between levels of IL-1beta and NO in both tissues and sera from patients with generalized vitiligo. Our study included 30 patients with generalized vitiligo and 15 normal controls. Tissue and serum levels of IL-1 beta and NO were measured using enzyme immunoassay and a spectrophotometer, respectively. Tissue and serum levels of NO were significantly higher in patients with generalized vitiligo than controls [0.58 +/- 0.19 vs 0.41 +/- 0.17 and 58.05 +/- 12.19 vs 28.82 +/- 3.98; p <0.01 and p <0.001; respectively]. Tissue and serum levels of IL-1 beta in patients with generalized vitiligo were significantly higher than controls [4.86 +/- 1.94 vs 2.18 +/- 0.71 and 22.09 +/- 2.64 vs 15.34 +/- 3.55; p <0.001 and p<0.001; respectively]. A significant positive correlation was found between tissue levels of NO and IL-1 beta [r = 0.82, p <0.001]. Tissue levels of IL-1 beta were significantly correlated with extent of vitiligo [r = 0.57, p <0.01]. Patients with generalized vitiligo had significantly increased tissue and serum levels of NO and IL-1 beta. Tissue levels of IL-1 beta were positively correlated with tissue levels of NO, and extent of vitiligo