LRP1/CD91 is highly expressed in monocytes from patients with vitiligo - even after repigmentation

Vitiligo pathophysiology is mediated by antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells. Environmental stressors cause susceptible melanocytes to secrete damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). DAMPs are recognized by receptors such as the endocytic low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related-protein (LRP1/CD91), expressed in antigen presenting cells, which activate self-reactive CD8+ T cells, leading to melanocyte destruction. Within this response, interferon-gamma triggers production of cytokine CXCL10, recruiting more activated T cells causing further melanocytic damage. We hypothesized that expression of LRP1/CD91 was higher in vitiligo patients compared to non-vitiligo individuals. And further that levels/expression of CXCL10 in plasma were linked to disease severity. We enrolled forty individuals in this study: 18 patients with vitiligo and 22 healthy volunteers. We assessed LRP1/CD91 expression and plasma CXCL10 in patients with vitiligo and healthy volunteers. Additionally, vitiligo patients received combined treatment for 16-weeks following which the said parameters were reassessed. Vitiligo Area Scoring Index were calculated before and after treatment for these patients. Analysis of LRP1/CD91 MFI values in monocytes from vitiligo patients showed high surface levels of LRP1/CD91 than from healthy volunteers (10.50±0.77 vs 6.55±0.77 MFI units, p