Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 17 2 2018 04 28 171 178 EN Farinaz Behfarjam Department  of  Clinical Genetics, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran Parvine Mansouri Department of Dermatology, Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Zohreh Jadali Department of Dermatology, Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2017 04 09 2017 06 28 There is growing evidence to suggest that Th cells play pivotal roles in a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases, including vitiligo. However, the exact role of different subsets of Th cells in the pathogenesis of vitiligo is still a question. The purpose of present study was to determine the mRNA expression level of Th17 master transcription factor retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptors gamma (RORɣt) and cytokine mRNA and protein expression profiles of Th17 cells. 22 patients with vitiligo and 22 normal subjects were enrolled in the study. Gene expression profiles of freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Plasma concentrations of IL-17A and IL-22 were also assayed using ELISA kits. The results showed that RORɣt, IL-17A and IL-22 mRNA expression were increased in patients remarkably compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). Furthermore, plasma IL-17A and IL-22 levels were also higher in vitiligo patients versus controls (p<0.001). These data suggest that a deregulated Th17 adaptive immune response may contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/1405 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/1405/818