Background: Polymorphisms of NLR (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine rich repeat containing) family, pyrin domain containing protein 1 (NLRP1) have been found in patients with vitiligo/nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV), and increased NLRP1 expression has been detected in the leading edge of lesional skin biopsies.
Objectives: To evaluate the presence and intensity of NLRP1 immunostaining in lesional and perilesional skin of patients with vitiligo/NSV and to search for possible correlations between NLRP1 and interleukin (IL)-1β expression, lymphocytic infiltrates and disease activity.
Methods: Of 14 consecutive vitiligo/NSV patients, eight had active disease [Vitiligo European Task Force (VETF) spreading score +1 to +5], one patient had stable disease and five patients had regressive disease (VETF spreading score -1 to -3). We performed immunostaining for NLRP1, B and T lymphocytes, IL-1β and kallikrein 7 on lesional and perilesional vitiligo skin.
Results: NLRP1 and IL-1β immunostaining in perilesional vitiligo/NSV skin was significantly associated with progressive disease (P = 0·009 and 0·04, respectively) and performed better than the simple detection of lymphocytic infiltrates.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that markers of the NLRP1 inflammasome could be a useful test for assessing disease activity in addition to the detection of inflammatory infiltrates in the progressing margins of vitiligo/NSV lesions.
© 2014 British Association of Dermatologists.