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Bittersweet: how hyperglycemia exacerbates vitiligo progression through the succinate/SUCNR1 axis

Kaitlyn G O'Donnell1, I Caroline Le Poole2

  • 1Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|June 15, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Hyperglycemia worsens vitiligo by activating the succinate/SUCNR1 pathway. This discovery offers a new therapeutic target and suggests lifestyle changes may help manage vitiligo and other autoimmune conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Immunodermatology
  • Metabolic pathways in autoimmune disease

Background:

  • Vitiligo is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disorder causing melanocyte destruction.
  • Current understanding of vitiligo triggers and treatments remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of hyperglycemia in vitiligo progression.
  • To identify molecular mechanisms linking metabolic changes to vitiligo pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • The study by Kang et al. explored the succinate/SUCNR1 signaling axis.
  • Investigated the impact of hyperglycemia on vitiligo development and progression.

Main Results:

  • Hyperglycemia was found to exacerbate vitiligo progression.
  • The succinate/SUCNR1 axis was identified as a key mediator of this exacerbation.
  • Succinate emerged as a potential biomarker for vitiligo activity.

Conclusions:

  • The succinate/SUCNR1 pathway presents a novel therapeutic target for vitiligo.
  • Modulating glucose metabolism and succinate levels may offer new treatment strategies.
  • Lifestyle modifications could potentially influence the development of vitiligo and related autoimmune diseases.

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