ISG15–USP18 Dysregulation by Oxidative Stress Promotes IFN-γ Secretion from CD8+ T Cells in Vitiligo

Excessive oxidative stress is thought to play pathologic roles in cellular senescence and autoimmune disorders by inducing inflammation and breaking down immune tolerance. In this study, we sought to identify the factors linking oxidative stress to autoimmunity and cellular senescence in vitiligo, where elevated oxidative stress plays an important role. RNA sequencing analysis of hydrogen peroxide–treated melanocytes revealed upregulation of ISG15. The upregulation of ISG15 was observed in vitiligo skin tissues as well as in the blood of patients with vitiligo, whereas USP18 downregulation was observed in vitiligo melanocytes and vitiligo skin tissues. Oxidative stress induced hypermethylation of the USP18 promoter region in keratinocytes and melanocytes, and USP18 promoter hypermethylation was also confirmed in vitiligo skin tissues. Our results indicate that USP18 promoter hypermethylation caused by oxidative stress increases ISG15 expression in keratinocytes and melanocytes along with senescence changes, leading CD8+ T cells to produce IFN-γ, the main pathogenic cytokine in vitiligo. Therefore, the ISG15–USP18 network may be important in oxidative stress–induced autoimmunity and cellular senescence in vitiligo pathogenesis. Excessive oxidative stress is thought to play pathologic roles in cellular senescence and autoimmune disorders by inducing inflammation and breaking down immune tolerance. In this study, we sought to identify the factors linking oxidative stress to autoimmunity and cellular senescence in vitiligo, where elevated oxidative stress plays an important role. RNA sequencing analysis of hydrogen peroxide–treated melanocytes revealed upregulation of ISG15. The upregulation of ISG15 was observed in vitiligo skin tissues as well as in the blood of patients with vitiligo, whereas USP18 downregulation was observed in vitiligo melanocytes and vitiligo skin tissues. Oxidative stress induced hypermethylation of the USP18 promoter region in keratinocytes and melanocytes, and USP18 promoter hypermethylation was also confirmed in vitiligo skin tissues. Our results indicate that USP18 promoter hypermethylation caused by oxidative stress increases ISG15 expression in keratinocytes and melanocytes along with senescence changes, leading CD8+ T cells to produce IFN-γ, the main pathogenic cytokine in vitiligo. Therefore, the ISG15–USP18 network may be important in oxidative stress–induced autoimmunity and cellular senescence in vitiligo pathogenesis. Combating Stress by Targeting Innate Immunity to Stop the War against Melanocytes in VitiligoJournal of Investigative DermatologyPreviewVitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by loss of melanin-producing melanocytes, resulting in appearance of white macules on the skin. It is a complex disease involving not only genetics but immune, environmental, and psychosocial components as well as oxidative stress and intrinsic melanocyte defects. Research over the last 10 years or so has demonstrated the role of the type I IFN (i.e., IFN-I) pathway as a characteristic feature of autoimmune diseases, including vitiligo (Bertolotti et al. Full-Text PDF