Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) ›› 2025, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (5): 1429-1436.doi: 10.13481/j.1671-587X.20250533

• Review • Previous Articles    

Research progress in effect of cutaneous tissue-resident memory T cells on development and recurrence of vitiligo

Huan WANG,Yu ZHEN,Shanshan LI()   

  1. Department of Dermatology and Venereology,First Hospital,Jilin University,Changchun 130021,China
  • Received:2024-09-16 Accepted:2024-10-17 Online:2025-09-28 Published:2025-11-05
  • Contact: Shanshan LI E-mail:shansalee@163.com

Abstract:

The cutaneous resident memory T cells (TRM) are important immune surveillance cells in skin tissue and are highly heterogeneous. The TRM achieve residency in skin by expressing residency markers such as CD69 and CD103, and their development and survival are regulated by several molecules such as interleukin-15 (IL-15). In addition to their roles in infection and tumors, the TRM, especially CD8+TRM, play an important role in the development and recurrence of autoimmune skin diseases such as vitiligo. Under the continuous stimulation of melanocyte antigens, melanocyte-specific CD49a+TRM1 can directly kill the melanocytes by expressing the interferon-γ(IFN-γ), granzyme B and perforin and they also recruit circulating memory CD8+T cells through the IFN-γ-Janus kinase(JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT) (IFN-γ-JAK-STAT) signaling pathway to collectively kill the melanocytes, which promotes vitiligo development and recurrence. Combined with the research progress at home and abroad, this article now summarizes the source, function and biological properties of cutaneous TRM, provides an overview of the research on TRM in vitiligo development and recurrence, and elaborates on the strategy of intervening in the recurrence of vitiligo by targeting TRM, aiming to provide the new ideas for the pathogenesis research and precise treatment of vitiligo.

Key words: Tissue-resident memory T cells, Vitiligo, Recurrence, Autoimmunity, Janus kinase, Signal transducer and activator of transcription

CLC Number: 

  • R758.41