The levels of sICAM-1 in the skin tissue fluid and IL-6 in the blood of patients with vitiligo were negatively correlated with the course of disease (P<0.05).
Our second aim was to find a possible association between ACE gene polymorphism and inflammatory mediators (as interleukin (IL)-6) and/or cellular cytotoxicity induced by serum nitrite (as a breakdown product of the cytotoxic nitric oxide) in vitiligo patients.
H(2)O(2)-induced overexpression of IL-6 by melanocytes may be a molecular linkage for the oxidative stress and inflammatory/autoimmune reactions in vitiligo and may provide a novel target for the treatment of vitiligo.