A comprehensive outline of the role of non-coding RNAs in vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common skin depigmentation condition caused by selective destruction of melanocytes. It is regarded as a polygenic disorder. In addition to protein-coding loci, non-coding regions of the genome contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo. A bulk of evidence highlights contribution of different classes of non-coding RNAs in this condition. Expression profile of different non-coding RNAs has been evaluated in the plasma, serum, blood cells and skin samples of patients with vitiligo. Notably, these transcripts not only partake the pathogenesis of vitiligo, but also are regarded as putative targets for prospective treatment strategies for this disorder. The current review focuses on depicting the role of miRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in the etiology of vitiligo. Moreover, we discuss the shared functions of these transcripts in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and melanoma.