cxcl13 serum level as a potential biomarker in vitiligo patients: correlation with disease activity and severity

Background: vitiligo is a prevalent autoimmune pigmentary skin disorder, with 0.5 - 2% of the global population prevalence. human follicular t helper cells, dendritic follicular cells, and mesenchymal lymphoid tissue organizer cells all generate the b-cell chemokine (c-x-c motif) ligand 13 (cxcl13). chemokine (c-x-c motif) ligand 13 and its receptor cxcr5 have been linked to the etiopathogenesis of various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in the latest studies. objectives: this study aimed to assess the serum cxcl13 level in vitiligo patients and its relation to the activity and severity of the disease. methods: this case-control study involved 21 vitiligo patients and 21 age and gender-matched healthy controls. full history taking, clinical evaluation, and assessment of the disease activity and severity were performed for all the patients. the cxcl13 serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). results: the serum cxcl13 levels were significantly higher in vitiligo patients than in healthy controls (227.35 ± 125.70 and 130.58 ± 26.52 ng/l, respectively; p = 0.002). there was a significant relationship between cxcl13 and the clinical pattern of activity among patients with vitiligo; however, there was no correlation with disease activity or severity index scores. conclusions: although cxcl13 was greater in vitiligo patients than in healthy controls, it was unrelated to the activity or severity of the illness. this finding suggests that cxcl13 might have a role in the immunological pathogenesis of vitiligo.