Volume 41, Issue 7 pp. 734-740
Original article

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and CRH receptor 1 gene expression in vitiligo

O. G. Shaker

Corresponding Author

O. G. Shaker

Department of Biochemistry Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Correspondence: Dr Olfat Gamil Shaker, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Maadi, Cairo 0123, Egypt

E-mail: [email protected]

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S. M. R. Eltahlawi

S. M. R. Eltahlawi

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

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S. O. Tawfic

S. O. Tawfic

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

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A. M. Eltawdy

A. M. Eltawdy

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

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N. I. E. Bedair

N. I. E. Bedair

Department of Dermatology, Students’ Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

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First published: 23 September 2016
Citations: 7
Conflict of interest: the authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Summary

Background

Vitiligo is a disorder characterized by depigmented patches in the skin. Psychological stress can activate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in the brain as well as on the peripheral level and aggravate autoimmune skin diseases. Skin appendages have dual functions dually as prominent targets and sources of the peripheral corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)–proopiomelanocortin axis.

Aim

To assess the role of CRH and CRHR-1 in vitiligo, and its possible association with psychological stress.

Methods

In total, 30 patients with vitiligo and 30 healthy controls were collected from the outpatient clinic. Expression of CRH and CRHR-1 was measured by real-time PCR in lesions and control skin.

Results

A significant increase in CRH and CRHR-1 expression was significantly correlated with psychological stress in vitiligo.

Conclusion

We conclude that CRH and CRHR-1 are altered by psychological stress and play an important role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

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