Aberrant expression of complement regulatory proteins, membrane cofactor protein and decay accelerating factor, in the involved epidermis of patients with vitiligo

Summary Background  Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder of the skin characterized by the complete absence of melanocytes from the lesion. Complement‐activating antimelanocyte antibodies have been implicated in vitiligo pathogenesis. As membrane regulators of complement activation, membrane cofactor protein, decay accelerating factor and CD59 protect cells from elimination by autologous complement, their absence or downregulation on melanocytes may be associated with autoantibody and complement‐mediated melanocyte destruction in vitiligo.