Objectives To study the difference in the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) between vitiliginous and non-vitiliginous patches in patients with stable vitiligo, and to compare the number of peripheral regulatory T cells between vitiligo patients in stable stage and normal controls. Methods Suction blister fluid was collected at 1 to 3 h after the suction. The expression of MCP-1 and sICAM-1 in skin tissue fluid was detected with ELISA. The number of regulatory T cells in the blood of vitiligo patients and controls was detected by flow cytometry. Results There was no significant difference in the number of regulatory T cells between vitiligo patients and normal controls. The expression of MCP-1 and sICAM-1 in skin tissue fluid was significantly higher in vitiliginous skin than that in non-vitiliginous patches in patients with common type vitiligo, while there was no significant difference between the two kinds of patches in patients with segmental type vitiligo. Conclusions The immune function is abnormal in vitiliginous skin of the common type vitiligo patients in stable stage, which might explain the lack of success in transplantation for this disease.