Abstract:

【Abstract】 Objective To assess the relationship of interleukin-17 （IL-17） and transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） with the development of vitiligo. Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was carried out to measure the levels of IL-17 and TGF-β in sera from 120 patients with vitiligo and 60 healthy controls. The correlations of serum IL-17 and TGF-β levels with patients′ gender, stage and duration of disease, involved body area and presence of family history were assessed. Results The level of serum IL-17 was significantly higher in patients with active vitiligo than in the controls and patients with stable vitiligo （both P < 0. 05）. With the rise in involved body area, the level of serum IL-17 gradually increased（χ2 = 12.656, P < 0.05）. The level of TGF-β in patients with active vitiligo was a little higher than that in the controls and patients with stable vitiligo, with no significant difference between these groups （both P > 0.05）. Conclusions The levels of serum IL-17 and TGF-β are somewhat correlated with the activity of vitiligo, and both of them may play a certain role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.