S100 B and CXCL9 as possible markers of disease activity and severity in nonsegmental vitiligo: a case control study

Background Vitiligo has an unpredictable clinical course that makes its management challenging. Objective We aimed to evaluate serum and tissue S100B and serum CXCL9 as possible biomarkers of activity and severity in nonsegmental vitiligo. Patients and methods Twenty patients with active vitiligo, 20 patients with stable vitiligo, and 20 controls were included. Skin biopsies were taken from the edge of vitiliginous lesions and abdominoplasty specimens in controls. Serum samples were taken from all participants. The active group received oral mini-pulse steroids (6 months), then clinical evaluation, skin biopsies, and serum samples were repeated. ELISA test was used to measure tissue and serum S100B, and serum CXCL9 levels. Results Tissue and serum S100B and serum CXCL9 were significantly higher in active ( P <0.001) and stable groups ( P <0.001) compared with controls. Serum S100B was significantly higher in active compared with stable vitiligo ( P =0.043) and positively correlated with vitiligo disease activity (r=0.351, P = 0.026). Serum CXCL9 positively correlated with vitiligo area severity index in the stable group (r=0.478, P = 0.033). Tissue and serum S100B and serum CXCL9 decreased significantly after treatment, with serum S100B values significantly lower than those of the stable group ( P =0.049). Conclusion This study further supports the roles of S100B and CXCL9 in vitiligo pathogenesis and links serum S100B and CXCL9 to disease activity and severity, respectively.