Objective To identify and screen serum markers in different stages of vitiligo by 2 proteomic techniques, and to explore their relationship network.

Methods Serum samples were collected from 15 patients with vitiligo in stable stage, 15 patients with vitiligo in progressive stage, and 15 healthy individuals. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) were used to detect and label all samples. Differential proteins were screened, and the relationship of pathways was analyzed by software.

Results A total of 10 differential proteins were identified by 2-DE in patients with stable vitiligo, including 6 up-regulated and 4 down-regulated proteins; 25 differential proteins were identified in patients with progressive vitiligo, including 11 up-regulated and 14 down-regulated proteins. Six-two differential proteins (29 up-regulated and 33 down-regulated) in stable patients, and 50 differential proteins (30 up-regulated and 20 down-regulated) in advanced patients were identified by iTRAQ. The same differential proteins identified by the two proteomics include α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4, complement C4-A (up-regulated) at the stable stage of vitiligo, and complement C4-B, apolipoprotein A (down-regulated) and α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 (up-regulated) at the advanced stage of vitiligo. According to GO annotation, the main pathways involved in the differential proteins were CCKR, plasminogen activator, p53, chemokine regulatory pathways, etc.

Conclusions The differentially expressed proteins in different stages of vitiligo could be screened by proteomic methods of both 2-DE and iTRAQ technology, which provided a foundation for further study of the pathogenesis of vitiligo.