Expression of the autophagic markers, light chain 3-I, light chain 3-II, and beclin 1, in vitiligo: a case–control study

Background Autophagy is a lysosomal degradative process that is essential for the cell viability, homeostasis, and maintenance. Objective To measure microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-I, LC3-II, and beclin 1 as indicators of autophagy and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as indicators of oxidative stress in patients with vitiligo. Patients and methods This comparative case–control study was conducted on 20 patients with nonsegmental vitiligo as well as 20 controls. LC3-I, LC3-II, and beclin 1 tissue expressions were detected by western blot analysis, whereas MDA and SOD were measured by the colorimetry method in the tissue homogenate. Results The LC3-I, LC3-II, beclin 1, and SOD levels were significantly lower in lesional skin than nonlesional skin of patients as well as both lesional and nonlesional skin of patients than controls (P<0.001). On the contrary, the level of MDA was significantly higher in lesional skin than nonlesional skin of patients as well as both lesional and nonlesional skin of patients than controls (P<0.001). Conclusion Downregulated autophagy as evident by downregulated levels of autophagic markers together with dysregulated oxidative stress species could play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, and optimizing autophagy could open a new era in vitiligo treatment.