Plasma alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin, and natural killer cell activity in...

The immune system is important in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, and emotional stress has precipitated vitiligo in some patients. Opioid peptides, beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin, and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) act as immunomodulators, and their secretion increases during periods of stress.

To see whether these three neuropeptides might be related to vitiligo itself or to some alterations of the immune system in patients with vitiligo, we compared circadian variations in their plasma concentrations and natural killer cell activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes in 14 patients with vitiligo with those of 12 healthy subjects.

Plasma concentrations of neurohormones were evaluated by radioimmunoassay (immunoradiometric assay for beta-endorphin). Natural killer cell activity (NKCA) was assayed against K562 cells by 51Cr release technique. Data were compared by the Student t test and analyzed by cosinor analysis.

The NKCA in vitiligo patients was higher than in controls but had similar circadian rhythm. alpha-MSH had no circadian rhythm in controls or in patients; plasma alpha-MSH levels were the same. Daily met-enkephalin and beta-endorphin oscillations in patients were no longer circadian. beta-Endorphin plasma levels in stable vitiligo were higher than in controls. There were no differences between patients with active vitiligo and normal subjects. Met-enkephalin plasma levels were generally higher in vitiligo patients, especially in the one with active vitiligo, than in controls.

In vitiligo there are aberrations in neuropeptide, beta-endorphin, and met-enkephalin secretion. The plasma met-enkephalin level is positively correlated with the aggressiveness of the disease.