Abstract: Objective To study the role of stem cell factor (SCF)/c-kit pathway in the pathogenesis of vitiligo,Methods The expression of SCF and c-kit was detected by immunohistochernistry and RT-PCR in 17 patients with stable vitiligo vulgaris and 10 healthy controls.Results The protein expression of SCF and c-kit was of no difference between the non-lesional epidermis of vitiligo and the control skin (P>0.05).A significantly higher protein expression of SCF and lower protein expression of c-kit were detected in lesional epidermis of vitiligo compared with the control skin (both P<0.05),The mRNA expression of SCF and c-kit was similar between non-lesional epidermis of vitiligo and control skin (P>0.05),while the level of SCF mRNA was significantly higher in lesional epidermis of vitiligo than that in non-lesional epidermis of vitiligo and control skin (P<0.05).The level of c-kit mRNA was markedly decreased in lesional epidermis than in non-lesional epidermis and control skin(P<0.05).Conclusion The abnormal expression of SCF and c-kit may be related to the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Key words: Vitiligo, keratinocytes, Melanocytes, Stem cell factor, Proto-oncogene protein c-kit