Lip and Tip SNPs

A genetic variant may indicate mutually exclusive susceptibility to vitiligo or melanoma.

Generalized vitiligo involves autoimmune destruction of melanocytes, often around the lips and at the fingertips (“lip and tip” distribution). Because patients with vitiligo are known to have other autoimmune diatheses, a central immunological dysregulation has been presumed. Jin and colleagues recently undertook a genome-wide association study to search for vitiligo-predisposing loci in 1514 patients with generalized vitiligo who were of non-Hispanic/non-Latino European descent and 2813 European control subjects with publicly available genotypes.

Skin status and presence of vitiligo were not determined in the control subjects. After genotyping about 500,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the investigators identified regions on nine…

Reviewing Author

Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Consultant / advisory board Lubax; WorldCare Clinical

EquityLubax

Grant / Research support NIH; Department of Defense; American Skin Association; Piramal

Editorial boardsBritish Journal of Dermatology; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Chair, Skin Cancer and Melanoma Committee); American Board of Dermatology (Director)