Immune mechanisms in vitiligo

The cause of vitiligo is not known. It is reasonable to suspect that immune mechanisms are involved because some cell surface antigens are selectively expressed on pigmented cells; the immune system has the ability to respond to these antigens, but seems to do so most in persons or animals who have vitiligo, and the progression of vitiligo in chickens is slowed by suppression of immunity. It is not known whether the specific immune abnormalities seen in vitiligo are a cause or an effect of the disease, nor whether they damage melanocytes, simply aggravate melanocyte injury initiated by other causes, or are interesting but irrelevant epiphenomena.