Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Dermatology and Venerology

Background: Circulating TCM are able to migrate back and forth through the blood and lymph to tissues such as the skin. Antigen-specific TCM have been identified in the blood of vitiligo patients. TCM sense antigen, secrete cytokines, chemokines and cooperate with TRM to maintain disease. Inhibiting TCM cells recruitment to the skin with FTY720 or depleting TCM with low-dose Thy1.1 antibody reversed the disease. Aim of work: The current study aimed to characterize the role of central memory T cell in pathogenesis of the disease and its diversity in blood of early versus late cases of generalized and localized non segmental vitiligo and to compare them to controls using multiparametric flow cytometry. Patients and methods: This study included 61 patients of non segmental vitiligo and 30 healthy controls. Detailed history was taken from each patient ,VASI, VES, and VIDA scores were assessed in every patient. Blood samples were taken , processed and stained for CD8,CD3, CCR7,CD45RO in all cases and controls.Level of TCM cells was measured in blood of all cases and controls using multiparametric flow cytometry. Results: Level of TCM was statistically higher (P value < 0.001) in controls than in cases , Early group of patients showed significantly higher TCM level (P value=0.032) than late group . No significant difference was found in level of TCM among localized versus generalized groups, patients with different VIDA scores (stable group and active group of vitiligo) . Also no correlation was found between level of TCM in patients with different VASI scores ,VES scores and different number of lesions

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