The role of Memory CD8+ T cells in Human Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease mediated by autoreactive CD8 + T cells that destroy the pigment-producing cells of the epidermis, melanocytes, leading to areas of depigmentation. Patients with vitiligo require life-long treatment to regain and maintain their pigment. Clinical observations uncovered the importance of autoimmune memory in vitiligo, as cessation of treatment frequently led to relapse of disease at the site of previous lesions. A subset of memory T cells known as resident memory CD8 + T cells (T RM ) are long lived, non-migratory memory cells that persist in most non-lymphoid tissues, including the skin. Recent reports describe the presence of CD8 + T RM in lesional vitiligo patient skin and suggest their role as active players in disease maintenance. In this review, we will discuss the role of skin CD8 + T RM in maintaining disease in vitiligo, and the opportunity to target this population to induce long-lasting reversal of disease.