The genetics of generalized vitiligo
The difference in linkage signals detected in Caucasian versus Chinese families suggests that different genes may be involved in the pathogenesis of generalized vitiligo in different ethnic populations.
Abstract
authors mapped AIS1, a gene on chromosome 1p31; Alkhateeb et al. (2005) further suggest FOXD3 as a candidate for AIS1 based on positional cloning. Fain et al. (2003) describe analysis of 71 Caucasian generalized vitiligo families, detecting linkage signals on chromosomes 1, 7, 8, 11, 19, and 22. Spritz et al. (2004) extend this analysis to 102 families, solidifying the linkages on chromosomes 1p (AIS1), 7 (AIS2), 8 (AIS3), and confirming SLEV1 on 17p. Additional potential linkage signals were detected on chromosomes 13, 19, and 22. AIS1, AIS2, and SLEV1 appeared to be specific to families segregating other autoimmune diseases, and thus might predispose to the vitiligo-associated autoimmune diathesis, while AIS2 might be more relevant to vitiligo per se. Chen et al. (2005) describe analogous genome-wide linkage analysis of 57 Chinese families, detecting possible linkage signals on chromosomes 1p, 4q, 6p, 6q, 14q, and 22q. Targeted locus-specific follow-up analysis of another 49 families confirmed linkage to 4q13q21 and 6p21-p22, the latter of which includes the MHC. The difference in linkage signals detected in Caucasian versus Chinese families suggests that different genes may be involved in the pathogenesis of generalized vitiligo in different ethnic populations.