Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals an Inflammatory Antigen-Presenting Macrophages Subtype Drive Vitiligo Pathogenesis Through STAT1-Mediated Dual Mechanisms.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vitiligo is a common depigmentary disorder characterized by progressive melanocyte (MEL) loss. While T-cell activation is central to its pathogenesis, the role of macrophages remains poorly understood. This study characterizes macrophage heterogeneity and function in vitiligo using single-cell transcriptomic analysis and experimental validation.

Methods

We analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from healthy and vitiligo-affected skin to identify macrophage subpopulations. Computational analyses included cell subpopulation clustering, pseudotime trajectory inference, cell-cell communication, and high-dimensional weighted gene coexpression network analysis (hdWGCNA). In vivo and in vitro experiments examined the effects of STAT1 suppression on the macr

SUBMITTER: Qi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12767439 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature