Deep skin dysbiosis in vitiligo patients: link with mitochondrial and immune changes

RationaleVitiligo is an autoimmune-disease characterized by patchy, white skin due to melanocyte loss. Commensal cutaneous or gut dysbiosis have been linked to various dermatological disorders. Here, we studied skin and gut microbiota of vitiligo patients compared to healthy controls.MethodsWe recruited 20 subjects and obtained swabs and biopsies from lesional and non-lesional skin, stool and blood from each individual (total 100 samples).ResultsWe detected reduced richness and distribution of microbiota in stool of vitiligo subjects compared to controls (PBifidobacterium and enriched in Terenicutes, Streptococcus, Mycoplasma and mitochondrial DNA (PConclusionThese data describe vitiligo-specific cutaneous and gut microbiota and, for the first time in humans, a link between mitochondrial alteration, innate immunity and skin microbiota.