Abstract: Tang Huijuan*, Zhou Miaoni, Fu Lifang, Hong Weisong, Wei Xiaodong, Zheng Dongdi, Xu Aie. *Hangzhou Clinical College Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hangzhou 310009, China Corresponding author: Xu Aie, Email: xuaiehz@msn.com 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the relationship between the efficacy of autologous cultured melanocyte transplantation for and the levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and soluble IL-6 receptor （sIL-6R） in suction blister fluid from patients with vitiligo. Methods Fifty-three patients with stable vitiligo were included in this study, and received autologous cultured melanocyte transplantation. Clinical efficacy was evaluated at six months after the transplantation. Suction blister fluid was collected from vitiliginous and non-vitiliginous skin in these patients before and six months after the transplantation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was performed to measure the levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R in the blister fluid. Statistical analysis was done using paired t test and two independent samples t-test. Results Significant differences were observed in the blister fluid levels of IL-6 （（113.22 ± 81.20） vs. （84.40 ± 48.78） ng/L, P < 0.01） and sIL-6R （（56.28 ± 24.87） vs. （53.96 ± 25.67） ng/L, P < 0.05） between vitiliginous and non-vitiliginous skin. The unsuccessfully treated patients showed higher levels of IL-6 in vitiliginous skin （（153.61 ± 100.26） vs. （88.75 ± 55.75） ng/L, P < 0.05） but similar levels of IL-6 in non-vitiliginous skin （（100.26 ± 55.17） vs. （74.78 ± 42.50） ng/L, P > 0.05） as well as of sIL-6R in both vitiliginous and non-vitiliginous skin compared with the successfully treated patients. The level of IL-6 in the suction blister fluid from both vitiliginous and non-vitiliginous skin was significantly higher in patients with vitiligo stable for less than one year than in those stable for one or more years （（148.46 ± 88.00） vs. （93.54 ± 71.07） ng/L, P < 0.05; （114.82 ± 64.66） vs. （67.40 ± 25.23） ng/L, P < 0.01）, but no significant differences were observed for the level of sIL-6R in vitiliginous or non-vitiliginous skin between the two groups of patients （both P > 0.05）. Decreased blister fluid level of IL-6 was observed in vitiliginous skin from patients with segmental vitiligo compared with those with non-segmental vitiligo （（77.33 ± 61.70） vs. （131.68 ± 84.54） ng/L, P < 0.05）, but there was no significant difference in the level of IL-6 in non-vitiliginous skin or the level of sIL-6R in vitiliginous and non-vitiliginous skin between the patients with segmental vitiligo and those with non-segmental vitiligo （all P > 0.05）. Moreover, significant differences were observed in the level of IL-6 in vitiliginous skin （（96.27 ± 53.390） vs. （178.90 ± 96.48） ng/L, P < 0.01） and non-vitiliginous skin （（78.25 ± 40.30） vs. （107.02 ± 42.48） ng/L, P < 0.05）, but not in the level of sIL-6R （both P > 0.05） in vitiliginous or non-vitiliginous skin, between the successfully and unsuccessfully treated patients with non-segmental vitiligo. Conclusions The abnormal expression of IL-6 may somewhat affect the microenvironment in vitiliginous lesions of patients, which seems to be associated with the efficacy of autologous cultured melanocyte transplantation.

Key words: Vitiligo, Interleukin-6 receptors, Interleukin-6, Melanocytes, Transplantation, Treatment outcome