# HUMORAL IMMUNITY TO PIGMENTED CELLS IN VITILIGO

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 1991 · $243,989

## Abstract

The objectives are to study the role of antibodies to melanocytes in the
pathogenesis of vitiligo and to determine whether the immune abnormalities
present in vitiligo can be harnessed to treat melanoma.

We have demonstrated that the majority of patients with vitiligo have
antibodies to surface antigens on normal human melanocytes.  We now wish to
elucidate the role of these antibodies in the pathogenesis of vitiligo by
addressing three broad questions:  1) What is the nature of the pigment
cell antigens which induce immune responses to melanocytes in vitiligo, 2)
Are pigment cell antibodies directly involved in the pathogenesis of
vitiligo, as would be evidenced by their ability to damage pigmented cells
in vitro, by a relationship between their titer and the activity of the
disease, by their appearance before rather than after the onset of
vitiligo, and by their ability to induce the disease in actively or
passively immunized animals, 3) Are there immunological relationships
between melanoma and vitiligo and can these be harnessed to treat this
cancer?

The results of these studies should define whether or not vitiligo is an
autoimmune disease to melanocytes.  If that is the case, it could lead to
improved methods of treating and perhaps preventing the disease, as well as
to novel methods of treating malignant melanoma.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155552
- **Project number:** 5R01AR027663-11
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NX9PXMKW5KW8
- **Principal Investigator:** JEAN-CLAUDE BYSTRYN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $243,989
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-12-01 → 1992-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155552

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155552, HUMORAL IMMUNITY TO PIGMENTED CELLS IN VITILIGO (5R01AR027663-11). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155552. Licensed CC0.

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