A new approach for the induction of vitiligo in mice

Abstract

Tyrosinase has been recognized as a major autoantign in human vitiligo. Here we have shown that experimental autoimmune vitiligo can be induced by intradermal injection of mushroom tyrosinase emulsified in complete Freund’s adjuvant in C57BL/6 mice. The onse of vitiligo was characterized by hair hypopigmentation and total melanocyte depletion in the basal layer of the epidermis. Our results confirm that tyrosinase is the causative autoantigen in the genesis of autoimmune vitiligo.