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In vitiligo, other than loss of melanocytes and melanin pigment in the involved skin, keratinocytes are also affected. Human fetal Merkel cells are now generally considered to be epidermally derived. Till date, no observation on mechanism of loss of Merkel cells were observed by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy using monoclonal antibody troma. ‘No troma 1- positive cells were observed in the involved vitiliginous skin in any of the specimens examined, whereas normal number of these cells were seen in the adjacent uninvolved skin. The findings suggest that keratinocytes and keratin – expressing cells like Merkel cells participate in the process of vitiligo through a cascade of events that ultimately lead of the destruction of melanocytes.’
