NLRP1, a regulator of innate immunity associated with vitiligo

Abstract

Some familial forms of the dermatological condition vitiligo have recently been linked to polymorphisms in the innate immunity gene, NLRP1. Here, we review what is currently known about the mechanisms that regulate activation of the NLRP1 protein and the downstream effects of NLRP1 on pathways impacting inflammation and apoptosis. How polymorphic variants of theNLRP1gene contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo remains mysterious, requiring further investigation. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.