Study On The Pathogenesis Of Vitiligo And Its Relationship With Serum MIF And ZAG

Objectives: By detecting Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF)and Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein (ZAG）levels of serum in vitiligo vulgarispatients and healthy volunteers, a probe into the potential factor thatMIF and ZAG may have relationship with the pathogenesis of vitiligo willbe taken, via an analysis on the different stages that vitiligo vulgarispatientsand healthy volunteers present different vitiligo area severityindex(VASI).Methods: The research was based on60vulgaris vitiligo patients fromDermatology Department of our Hospital from November2012to June2013which were divided into two group:30as the progressive stages (activevitiligo bearing an enlargement of the area of depigmentation within3months) and the other30as the stable stages (inactive vitiligo with nonew depigmentation or enlargement of depigmentation within3months). Theseverity of vitiligo vulgaris was assessed by vitiligo area severityindex(VASI) in both groups and compared to another group made up of healthypeople. By ELISA detecting MIF and ZAG factors levels in serum of casegroup and control group and observing the change of MIF and ZAG factorslevels, all records were put into SPSS16.0and analyzed.Result:1. MIF levels of serum were significantly higher in patients withadvanced and patients with plateau than that in the control group((79.77±37.99) ng/ml and (48.45±17.59) ng/ml vs.(29.61±22.08) ng/ml, Z=4.879and3.660,both P<0.001), and statistical significances did exist inpatients with advanced and patients with plateau (Z=3.223,P<0.001). Inaddition,the levels of MIF were positively correlated with VASI (r=0.477, P<0.001).2.ZAG levels of serum were significantly lower in patients withadvanced and patients with plateau than that in the control group((49.81±23.15)μg/ml and(80.79±31.59)μg/ml vs.(116.84±61.47)μg/ml,Z=4.155and2.100, both P<0.05), and statistical significances didexist in patients with advanced and patients with plateau(Z=4.015,P<0.001). But there was no correlation between ZAG levels andVASI (r=0.097，P=0.461).Conclusion:1. MIF may be involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo vulgaris andit may be useful as an index of disease severity and activity.2. ZAG may be involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo vulgaris.