Recognition of melanoma cell antigens with antibodies present in sera from patients with vitiligo

Background Patients with vitiligo show specific losses of integumentary melanocytes, probably due to autoimmunity against melanocytes. We attempted to determine the presence of antibodies against pigment cell antigens in the sera of vitiligo patients. Methods Detergent-solubilized human melanoma cells were submitted to electrophoretic separation and immunoblotted against serum samples obtained from 19 patients with vitiligo and from 20 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Results Eighty-nine per cent of patients with vitiligo had antibodies to one or more pigment cell antigens. Similar antibodies were detected in 20% of healthy individuals. Antigens of 165, 90, and 68 kDa were recognized by the antibodies present in sera from 11%, 26%, and 37% of vitiligo patients, respectively, and in none of the normal sera. All patients with familial vitiligo also had antibodies to these three proteins. Conclusions Proteins of 165, 90, and 68 kDa are specifically recognized by antibodies present in the sera of vitiligo patients and in all patients with genetic vitiligo. Whether or not these proteins might be implicated in the destruction of melanocytes by the immune system in vitiligo remains to be evaluated.