Emerging role of Tissue Resident Memory T cells in vitiligo: From pathogenesis to therapeutics

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder which affects both skin and mucous membranes and autoimmunity has been strongly suggested to play a role in loss of melanocytes. The recurrence of skin macules at the same sites where they were observed prior to the treatment, suggests the existence of Tissue Resident Memory T cells (TRMs) that persist within the skin or peripheral tissues with a longer survivability. Emerging studies have shown that reactivation of these skin TRMs results into autoreactive TRM cells in various autoimmune diseases including vitiligo. This review focuses on different subsets (CD8(+) TRMs and CD4(+) TRMs) of TRM cells, their retention and survivability in the skin along with their pathomechanisms leading to melanocyte death and progression of vitiligo. In addition, the review describes the TRM cells as potential targets for developing effective therapeutics of vitiligo.

Automated summary

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder affecting skin and mucous membranes, with autoimmunity strongly suggested as playing a role in melanocyte loss. Tissue Resident Memory T cells (TRMs) may persist in skin or peripheral tissues, reactivating to become autoreactive TRM cells and contributing to autoimmune diseases like vitiligo. Understanding different subsets of TRM cells, their retention in skin, and their pathomechanisms leading to melanocyte death may offer insights for developing effective vitiligo therapeutics.