Gene gun vaccination of mutant HSP70 before depigmentation in a vitiligo mouse model (mice expressing Pmel-1/gp100-reactive T cell receptor, resulting in melanocyte loss) prevented vitiligo, while depigmentation was reversed in a second model (mice expressing a tyrosinase-reactive T cell receptor, resulting in melanocyte loss) undergoing rapid pigment loss14. Here, PMEL is linked to vitiligo.