Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 40725033 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26146787
Leflunomide-Mediated Immunomodulation Inhibits Lesion Progression in a Vitiligo Mouse Model.
Int J Mol Sci 26(14)
Authors: Fang Miao, Xiaohui Li, Liang Zhao, Shijiao Zhang, Mengmeng Geng, Chuhuan Ye, Ying Shi, Tiechi Lei
Affiliations
- Department of Dermatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
Abstract
Autoimmune CD8 + T cell-driven melanocyte destruction constitutes a key pathogenic mechanism in the development of vitiligo. Therefore, the pharmacological inhibition of CD8 + T cell effector functions and skin trafficking is a clinically viable therapeutic strategy. This study investigates leflunomide (LEF), an immunomodulatory drug with established safety in autoimmune diseases, for its therapeutic potential in a tyrosine-related protein (TRP) 2-180-induced vitiligo mouse model. Through flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, and histopathological analyses, we systematically evaluated LEF's effects on T cell regulation, chemokine expression, and cytokine profiles. Key findings demonstrated that LEF (20 mg/kg/day) significantly attenuated depigmentation by reducing CD8 + T cell infiltration and suppressing the IFN-γ-driven expression of CXCL9/10. Furthermore, LEF restored CD4 +/CD8 + T cell homeostasis and rebalanced pro-inflammatory (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines, inducing a shift from Th1 to Th2. These results position LEF as an effective immunomodulator that disrupts the IFN-γ-CXCL9/10 axis and re-establishes immune balance, offering a promising repurposing strategy for halting vitiligo progression.
MeSH
Cytokines, Cells, Immunomodulation, Vitiligo, Leflunomide, Therapeutics