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Background: Vitiligo, a chronic skin disorder characterized by depigmentation and white patch formation, not only poses a cosmetic challenge but also imposes a significant psychological burden. The relationship between vitiligo and depression remains underexplored, despite growing recognition of their potential association. This observational study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression and assess the quality of life (QoL) among patients with vitiligo attending a tertiary care center. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the dermatology and psychiatry departments of SRVS Medical College, Shivpuri, involving 150 vitiligo patients aged 18 to 60 years. Participants were assessed using the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), vitiligo area scoring index (VASI), and dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Statistical analyses were performed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: The mean age of participants was 38.55±14.82 years, with 69.3% being female. Nonsegmental vitiligo accounted for 84% of cases, and 42.6% had active disease. The mean DLQI score was 8.45±6.12, with female gender and active disease significantly associated with lower QoL scores. A strong correlation was observed between depressive symptoms and impaired QoL (DLQI). The prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 score ?9) was 14.6%, with employed individuals showing a significantly higher prevalence compared to other groups. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the significant burden of depression and impaired QoL among vitiligo patients attending a tertiary care center. Addressing the psychosocial aspects of vitiligo alongside its dermatological manifestations is crucial for optimizing patient care and enhancing overall well-being. Further longitudinal research is warranted to elucidate the complex relationship between vitiligo and depression.
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Resumen Introducción: El vitiligo es una enfermedad multifactorial caracterizada por la pérdida de melanocitos. La prevalencia mundial oscila entre el 0.5% y el 2%, y en niños entre el 0% y el 2.16%. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las características clínicas asociadas a la progresión del vitiligo. Métodos: En una cohorte retrospectiva se analizó una muestra aleatoria de expedientes de pacientes con vitiligo de 0-18 años de edad, de enero de 2016 a diciembre de 2020. Se estudiaron la edad de inicio, el sexo, los antecedentes heredofamiliares, el antecedente personal de enfermedades tiroideas, el tiempo de evolución, la clasificación, el fenómeno de Köebner, el vitiligo en mucosas, el halo nevo, el encanecimiento prematuro y la relación con otras dermatosis. El estado final se clasificó en progresión, estabilidad, remisión parcial y remisión completa. Resultados: 574 niños con vitiligo; 290 (50.5%) mujeres y 284 (49.5%) varones. Vitiligo no segmentario en 324 (56.4%), vitiligo segmentario en 250 (43.6%). Edad promedio de aparición 8.7 años (DE: 4.54). Mediana de tiempo de evolución 6 meses (percentil 25 de 3 meses y percentil 75 de 24 meses). Se encontraron antecedentes familiares en 27 (4.70%). Enfermedad tiroidea en 7 (1.21%). En la evolución permanecieron estables 44 (7.7%), progresaron 68 (11.8%), remisión completa 32 (5.6%), remisión parcial 222 (38.7%) y una consulta 208 (36.2%). Se obtuvo p < 0.028 en vitiligo no segmentario, p < 0.000 en menor edad de aparición y p < 0.009 en comorbilidad cutánea. Conclusiones: Las variables que se asociaron a progresión fueron vitiligo no segmentario, edad temprana de inicio y no cursar con otras enfermedades cutáneas.
Abstract Background: Vitiligo is a multifactorial disease characterized by the progressive loss of melanocytes. The worldwide prevalence ranges from 0.5% to 2%, and in children from 0% to 2.16%. The objective of this study was to determine the variables associated with progression of vitiligo. Methods: A retrospective cohort was carried out where a random sample of records of pediatric patients with vitiligo from January 2016 to December 2020 was analyzed. The variables were studied: age at onset, sex, hereditary family history, personal history of thyroid diseases, time of evolution, classification, Köebner phenomena, mucosal vitiligo, halo nevus, premature graying and the presence of other dermatoses. The final state was classified as progression, stability, partial remission and complete remission. Results: 574 children with vitiligo; 290 (50.5%) women, 284 (49.5%) men. Non-segmental vitiligo in 324 (56.4%), segmental vitiligo in 250 (43.6%). Mean age of onset 8.7 years (SD: 4.54). Median evolution time 6 months (25th percentile of 3 months and 75th percentile of 24 months). Family history 27 (4.70%). Thyroid disease 7 (1.21%). Evolution remained stable in 44 (7.7%), 68 (11.8%) had progression, 32 (5.6%) complete remission, 222 (38.7%) partial remission and 208 (36.2%) one consultation. Non-segmental vitiligo was obtained p < 0.028, younger age of onset p < 0.000, and none skin comorbidities p < 0.009. Conclusions: The variables that were associated with a more progression were non-segmental vitiligo, early ages at the onset of the disease, and not presenting with other skin diseases.
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Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of plum-blossom needle therapy for vitiligo by using the systematic review and meta analysis.Methods The randomized controlled trials(RCT)on plum-blossom needle for treating vitiligo were systematically retrieved from the databases of the PubMed,China Biological Medicine Database,CNKI,Wanfang Data and VIP database from the database estab-lishment to June 2,2022.The literatures were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.The finally included literatures conducted the data extraction.The RevMan 5.4 software was used for conducting the data analysis.The methodological quality evaluation on the included trials was performed by the ROB tool.The GRADE method was used to assess the evidence level.Results A total of 7 trials involving 469 pa-tients were finally included.The meta analysis results showed that the plum-blossom needle combined with other therapies(including laser or ultraviolet irradiation,tacrolimus ointment,compound Kaliziran tincture)was superior to the other therapies alone in the aspects of improving vitiligo skin lesion including reducing the of white spot skin lesion area(MD=-1.11,95％CI:-1.92 to-0.30,P=0.007),increasing the repigment-ation rate of vitiliginous lesions(MD=18.09,95％CI:1.55 to 34.63,P=0.030)and enhancing the pigment deposition in vitiligo lesions(MD=0.92,95％CI:0.32 to 1.52,P=0.003),and improving the patients'quali-ty of life(MD=-7.48,95％CI:-8.04 to-6.92,P＜0.001),and the differences were statistically signifi-cant.In terms of safety,there was no statistically significant difference in adverse events between plum blos-som acupuncture combined with other therapies and other therapies alone(RR=1.20,95％CI:0.77 to 1.84,P=0.420).Conclusion Low or very low evidence shows that plum-blossom needle combined with other therapies for treating vitiligo may enhance the effect in the aspects of improving the white spot skin lesions and quality of life in the patients with vitiligo,moreover which is relatively safe.
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Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy has been regarded as the first-line treatment of generalized vitiligo. However, NB-UVB monotherapy exhibits limited efficacy with a long course of treatment. NB-UVB phototherapy combined with other therapies can shorten the course of treatment and improve the therapeutic effect, and has become a commonly used therapeutic regimen in clinical practice. This review summarizes research progress in the combined therapies of NB-UVB with other approaches for the treatment of vitiligo, such as glucocorticoids, afamelanotide, calcineurin inhibitors, Janus kinase inhibitors, platelet-rich plasma, fractional CO 2 laser and surgical treatment, in order to provide more options for clinical treatment of vitiligo.
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Vitiligo is an acquired depigmented disease, and neurological factors may play an important role in its pathogenesis. Neurogenic inflammatory factors released by sensory nerves that control the skin can directly or indirectly regulate functions of keratinocytes, melanocytes, Langerhans cells, dermal dendritic cells, mast cells, dermal microvascular endothelial cells and immune cells. This review summarizes roles of several relevant neurogenic inflammatory factors in the occurrence and development of vitiligo, including neuropeptide Y, calcitonin gene-related peptide, catecholamines and nerve growth factor, with a view to providing new ideas for clinical treatment of vitiligo.
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Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of electrolysis of depigmented hair using a trichiasis electrolyzer combined with hair follicle transplantation in the treatment of vitiligo-associated leukotrichia.Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively collected from 25 patients with stable vitiligo-associated leukotrichia in the Department of Dermatologic Surgery, Hangzhou Third People′s Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021. All the patients received electrolysis of depigmented hair using a trichiasis electrolyzer combined with hair follicle transplantation. Outpatient follow-up visits were conducted in the first week, as well as the first, third and sixth months after surgery. The texture and growth status of transplanted hair were observed, and the survival rate of transplanted hair follicles and the proportion of newborn white hair in white hair in the original lesions were recorded.Results:Among the 25 patients with stable vitiligo, there were 14 males and 11 females, and their disease duration ranged from 2 to 15 years, with the average duration being 5.8 years. A total of 30 white patches accompanied by leukotrichia were included, including 9 on the scalp, 7 on the eyebrows and 14 on the eyelashes. One week after surgery, the transplanted hair survived well in all patients, without obvious shedding or local infection. Six months after surgery, repigmentation was observed in most hair in the original lesion area, and only a small amount of white hair grew out, without obvious scarring; the survival rate of transplanted hair follicles was 76.5% ± 10.0%, and the proportion of newborn white hair in white hair in the original lesions was 16.7% ± 7.8%.Conclusion:Electrolysis of depigmented hair using a trichiasis electrolyzer combined with hair follicle transplantation was effective in the treatment of vitiligo-associated leukotrichia, with a simple treatment process and few postoperative complications, which provided a reliable choice for the clinical treatment of vitiligo-associated leukotrichia.
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Based on the results of the latest basic research on vitiligo, this article elucidates the significance of reconfiguration of glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and metabolism of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, attempts to delineate a panoramic picture of metabolic reconfiguration in vitiligo, and discusses the importance of dialectically and uniformly grasping the crosstalk between multiple metabolic pathways, and of thinking about the mechanisms of action of multiple metabolic pathway reconfiguration in the occurrence of vitiligo in individuals from a holistic perspective in future basic studies, in order to promote the understanding of the vitiligo pathogenesis and explore potential treatment methods for vitiligo.
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In recent years, great progress has been made in the research on the pathogenesis of vitiligo, and many new treatment methods and drugs have emerged. Interferon-γ-activated Janus kinase (JAK) signaling and melanocyte regeneration signaling pathways are the most concerned targets in the research on the treatment of vitiligo. This article summarizes the efficacy of current new drugs targeting these pathways and the experience in applying these drugs in the treatment of vitiligo. JAK inhibitors are currently the most promising new drugs for the treatment of vitiligo, and their efficacy can be improved in combination with phototherapy.
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Objective:To compare the clinical data and peripheral blood levels of CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL) 9 and CXCL10 between patients with progressive non-segmental vitiligo who were sensitive to systemic glucocorticoid treatment and those who were resistant, and to clarify key clinical factors influencing the sensitivity to systemic glucocorticoid treatment.Methods:From May 2021 to May 2023, a cohort of patients with progressive non-segmental vitiligo receiving systemic glucocorticoid treatment was established in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. Clinical data and peripheral blood samples were prospectively collected from all enrolled patients. Standard treatment, i.e., intramuscular injections of 1 ml of compound betamethasone once a month, was administered. After 3-month treatment, the improvement of patients′ skin lesions was estimated, and the vitiligo area and severity index (VASI) score and the Vitiligo European Task Force assessment tool (VETFa) were used to evaluate the efficacy. Patients with VASI changes ≥ 0 and VETFa progression scores ≤ 0 point were included in the glucocorticoid-sensitive group (i.e., the patients′ condition was stable or improved), otherwise those with VASI changes < 0 and VETFa progression scores of 1 point were included in the glucocorticoid-resistant group. Associations of lesion locations, specific clinical markers (trichrome lesions, confetti-like depigmentation, and Koebner phenomenon), previous medication history, family history of vitiligo, etc. with the response to systemic glucocorticoid treatment were analyzed. At baseline and after 3-month treatment, peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect the plasma levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10. Statistical analysis was carried out by using the chi-square test, Fisher′s exact test, binary logistic regression analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results:A total of 142 patients with vitiligo were enrolled, and 127 completed 3-month treatment, including 77 males and 50 females. Their age at diagnosis was 18 to 65 (36.6 ± 11.4) years, and the disease duration ranged from 2 months to 58 (13.5 ± 10.7) years; 25 (19.7%) had a family history of vitiligo; the percentage of lesion area to total body surface area before treatment ranged from 1% to 70% (11.5% ± 12.7%), and the VASI score was 1% to 70% (10.8% ± 11.6%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the absence of specific clinical markers (odds ratio [ OR] = 6.900, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.228, 38.757, P = 0.028), carrying a single specific clinical marker ( OR = 2.579, 95% CI: 1.012, 6.574, P = 0.047), having a history of topical glucocorticoid treatment ( OR = 2.643, 95% CI: 1.019, 6.850, P = 0.041), the absence of family history of vitiligo ( OR = 5.090, 95% CI: 1.070, 24.215, P = 0.030), and lesions on the proximal extremities ( OR = 3.767, 95% CI: 1.315, 10.793, P = 0.037) were risk factors for the resistance to systemic glucocorticoid treatment in the patients with vitiligo. After 3-month treatment, the glucocorticoid-sensitive group showed a significant decrease in plasma CXCL10 levels compared with those before treatment ( W = 571.00, P < 0.001), while there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-treatment CXCL10 levels in the glucocorticoid-resistant group ( W = 48.00, P = 0.524). Additionally, no significant difference was observed in changes of the plasma CXCL9 level before and after treatment between the glucocorticoid-sensitive and glucocorticoid-resistant groups ( P > 0.05) . Conclusions:Carrying no or a single specific clinical marker, having a history of topical glucocorticoid treatment, the absence of family history of vitiligo, and lesions on the proximal extremities appeared to be risk factors for the resistance to systemic glucocorticoid treatment in patients with progressive non-segmental vitiligo. Changes in CXCL10 levels after treatment may be used as an important evaluation indicator for determining whether patients with progressive vitiligo were resistant to systemic glucocorticoid treatment.
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Objective:To analyze factors influencing repigmentation patterns in patients with vitiligo treated with phototherapy.Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively collected from patients with vitiligo treated with 308-nm excimer laser or 308-nm excimer lamp at the Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University from June 2013 to May 2022. The treatment frequency was thrice weekly, and skin lesions were evaluated via photographs once every 5 sessions of phototherapy. Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test was used to analyze associations between clinical characteristics and vitiligo repigmentation patterns.Results:A total of 223 patients with vitiligo were included in this study, including 109 males (48.9%) and 114 females (51.1%), and their ages ( M [ Q1, Q3]) were 20 (10, 28) years. Among the 223 patients, 170 (76.2%) were treated with 308-nm excimer laser, and 53 (23.8%) with 308-nm excimer lamp. The repigmentation patterns included the perifollicular pattern in 63 cases (28.3%), marginal pattern in 97 (43.5%), diffuse pattern in 36 (16.1%), and mixed pattern in 27 (12.1%). Analysis of the associations between clinical characteristics and vitiligo repigmentation patterns showed no significant differences in the repigmentation patterns among vitiligo patients of different genders or different Fitzpatrick skin types (both P > 0.05) ; however, the diffuse repigmentation pattern more frequently occurred in the patients aged ≤ 12 years compared with those aged > 12 years ( χ2 = 7.71, P = 0.005), in the patients with vitiligo in the progressive stage compared with those in the stable stage ( χ2 = 4.59, P = 0.030), and in lesions without white hair compared with those with white hair ( χ2 = 6.75, P = 0.009) ; the mixed repigmentation pattern more frequently occurred in the patients with segmental vitiligo compared with those with non-segmental vitiligo ( χ2 = 11.76, P = 0.001) ; the marginal repigmentation pattern more frequently occurred in lesions on the face and neck ( χ2 = 15.82, P<0.001) and extremities ( χ2 = 11.85, P = 0.001) compared with lesions on the trunk; the perifollicular repigmentation pattern more frequently occurred in the patients with stable vitiligo compared with those with progressive vitiligo ( χ2 = 4.70, P = 0.030), and in skin lesions on the trunk compared with those on face and neck ( χ2 = 13.73, P < 0.001) and extremities ( χ2 = 5.49, P = 0.035) ; after 308-nm excimer laser treatment, the proportions of patients with the marginal repigmentation pattern ( χ2 = 12.30, P < 0.001) and those with the diffuse repigmentation pattern ( χ2 = 5.64, P = 0.018) were significantly higher than those after 308-nm excimer lamp treatment, while the proportions of patients with the perifollicular repigmentation pattern ( χ2 = 7.87, P = 0.005) and those with the mixed repigmentation pattern ( χ2 = 17.13, P < 0.001) were significantly higher after 308-nm excimer lamp treatment than those after 308-nm excimer laser treatment. Conclusion:Patients′ age, clinical types and stages of vitiligo, presence or absence of concomitant white hair, skin lesion sites, and phototherapy modalities were factors influencing the repigmentation patterns of vitiligo.
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Objective:To explore expression patterns of transcription factor TFAP2B in epidermal melanocytes of healthy individuals and vitiligo patients.Methods:Lesional tissues were collected from 5 patients confirmedly diagnosed with progressive vitiligo at the Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University from January 2020 to December 2022. At the same time, some discarded normal skin tissues were obtained from 5 gender- and age-matched healthy individuals after plastic surgeries. The immortalized healthy human epidermal melanocyte cell line PIG1, the vitiligo epidermal melanocyte cell line PIG3V, and primary human epidermal melanocytes, which were isolated from the discarded foreskin tissues of 3 healthy males after urological surgeries in Xijing Hospital, were cultured in vitro. Tissue immunofluorescence assay was performed to determine the expression and localization of TFAP2B and dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) in healthy skin tissues and vitiligo lesions, and cell immunofluorescence assay and Western blot analysis were conducted to determine the TFAP2B expression in human epidermal melanocytes. Comparisons between two groups were performed using t test, and correlation analysis was performed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Results:Tissue immunofluorescence assay showed that TFAP2B was specifically expressed in human epidermal melanocytes and localized in the nuclei. Western blot analysis showed that TFAP2B was strongly expressed in the human epidermal melanocyte cell line PIG1 and primary melanocytes, with the relative expression levels being 0.45 ± 0.05 and 0.36 ± 0.04, respectively. Tissue immunofluorescence analysis showed that the fluorescence intensity of TFAP2B (623 917.5 ± 88 784.0) was significantly and positively correlated with that of DCT (2 232 655.3 ± 588 810.4; r = 0.91, P < 0.001) in human epidermal tissues from 5 healthy controls and 5 vitiligo patients. In addition, the relative fluorescence intensity of TFAP2B in epidermal melanocytes was significantly lower in the vitiligo lesions (0.12 ± 0.05) than in the healthy skin tissues (1, t = 19.35, P < 0.001). Western blot analysis showed that the relative expression level of TFAP2B was also significantly lower in the PIG3V cells (0.62 ± 0.09) than in the PIG1 cells (1, t = 5.92, P < 0.027) . Conclusions:TFAP2B was specifically and highly expressed in human epidermal melanocytes, and its expression level was significantly and positively correlated with that of the melanocyte marker DCT. Additionally, TFAP2B was obviously lowly expressed in the epidermal melanocytes of patients with vitiligo.
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Objective:To compare the efficacy of fractional CO 2 laser combined with topical delivery of fluorouracil versus compound betamethasone injections in the treatment of vitiligo. Methods:Clinical data were collected from 94 patients with localized, non-segmental, and stable vitiligo, who received fractional CO 2 laser combined with drug delivery at the Cosmetological Center, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University from October 2018 to May 2023, and were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 40 cases in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with fluorouracil injection group, and 54 cases in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with compound betamethasone injection group. All the patients received the above treatment once a month for 5 sessions. A 4-level grading scale was used to evaluate the pigmentation improvement, and the clinical efficacy and safety of the two therapeutic regimens were compared. Comparisons between groups were performed using chi-square test, Fisher′s exact test, and t test. Results:In the fractional CO 2 laser combined with fluorouracil injection group, there were 22 males and 18 females, their ages were 21.95 ± 12.88 years, and the disease duration was 25.46 ± 11.42 months; in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with compound betamethasone injection group, there were 36 males and 18 females, their ages were 22.26 ± 8.79 years, and the disease duration was 26.51 ± 12.81 months. One month after the first treatment, no significant difference was observed in the efficacy between the two groups ( χ2 = 1.39, P = 0.238). One month after the fifth treatment, 2 (5.0%) patients showed an excellent response, 4 (10.0%) showed a good response, 12 (30.0%) showed a mild response, and 22 (55.0%) showed a poor response in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with fluorouracil injection group; in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with compound betamethasone injection group, 8 (14.8%) patients showed a good response, 8 (14.8%) showed a mild response, and 38 (70.4%) showed a poor response; there was no significant difference in the efficacy between the two groups after 5 sessions of treatment ( χ2 = 2.35, P = 0.125). After either 1 or 5 sessions of treatment, there were no significant differences in the efficacy for lesions on the face and neck, trunk and limbs, hands and feet between the two therapeutic regimens (all P > 0.05). Comparisons of the efficacy for skin lesions on different body sites showed that one session of the fractional CO 2 laser combined with fluorouracil injection was more effective for the treatment of skin lesions on the face and neck compared with those on the hands and feet ( P = 0.039) ; after 5 sessions of treatment, the two therapeutic regimens both showed better efficacy for facial skin lesions compared with hand and foot skin lesions ( P = 0.005, 0.049). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of adverse reactions such as pigmentation, infection and scarring between the two groups. Conclusion:The fractional CO 2 laser combined with topical delivery of fluorouracil and compound betamethasone injections showed similar efficacy and safety in the treatment of vitiligo, and both can be used as treatment options for vitiligo.
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Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of water jet-assisted dermabrasion versus electric dermabrasion in combination with suction blister epidermal grafting in the treatment of vitiligo.Methods:A total of 60 vitiligo patients were enrolled from the Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022. Thirty patients firstly received water jet-assisted dermabrasion, 30 firstly received electric dermabrasion, and then all were treated with suction blister epidermal grafting. Follow-up visits were conducted once a month, and the repigmentation of skin lesions and efficacy were evaluated and compared between the two groups 6 months after surgery.Results:There were 30 patients with 312 skin lesions in the water jet-assisted dermabrasion group, including 13 males and 17 females, with the ages and disease duration being 24.41 ± 3.12 years and 5.13 ± 2.34 years respectively; there were 30 patients with 301 skin lesions in the electric dermabrasion group, including 11 males and 19 females, with the ages and disease duration being 22.73 ± 5.11 years and 4.88 ± 2.21 years respectively. No significant differences were observed in the age, gender, disease duration, and dermabrasion sites between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Six months after the operation, 187 (59.94%) skin lesions were healed, 103 (33.01%) were markedly improved, and 22 (7.05%) were improved in the water jet-assisted dermabrasion group; in the electric dermabrasion group, 166 (55.15%) lesions were healed, 108 (35.88%) were markedly improved, and 27 (8.97%) were improved; there was no significant difference in the total response rate between the water jet-assisted dermabrasion group (92.95%) and the electric dermabrasion group (91.03%; χ2 = 0.27, P = 0.602). The water jet-assisted dermabrasion group showed significantly higher degree of repigmentation (90.47% ± 2.53%), matching degree of skin color (3.53 ± 0.21 points), and patient satisfaction scores (3.32 ± 0.27 points) compared with the electric dermabrasion group (82.40% ± 5.33%, 2.71 ± 0.32 points, 2.68 ± 0.41 points, t = 5.30, 8.28, 5.09, respectively, all P < 0.05). No adverse reactions/events were seen in either group. Conclusions:The water jet-assisted dermabrasion combined with suction blister epidermal grafting and electric dermabrasion combined with suction blister epidermal grafting showed similar efficacy in the treatment of vitiligo, with good safety profiles. However, the degree of repigmentation, matching degree of skin color, and patient satisfaction rates were all higher in the patients receiving water jet-assisted dermabrasion than those receiving electric dermabrasion.
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In recent years, with the in-depth research on the pathogenesis of vitiligo, the Janus kinase (JAK) -signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway has attracted more and more attention. This review summarizes the role of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in the development of vitiligo, as well as JAK-STAT inhibitors that are currently being studied or have been used in the treatment of vitiligo.
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Objective:To observe and analyze depression-like behavioral performances of mouse models of vitiligo.Methods:Fifteen female C57BL/6 mice aged about 9 weeks were modeled for vitiligo. Whether the mouse models of vitiligo were successfully constructed or not was determined by macroscopy and full-thickness epidermal immunofluorescence staining of mouse tail tissues on day 23 after the start of the experiment; on day 8 (pre-modeling stage) and day 21 (early modeling stage), the elevated plus maze test and the open field test were used to evaluate the behavioral performances of the mice, including the number of entry into the open arms, percentages of time spent in the open arms, percentages of time spent in the central area and total distance traveled, aiming to assess whether depression-like behaviors were exhibited in the mouse models of vitiligo. To further clarify the degree of the impact of vitiligo modeling on the depression-like state in mice, 20 female C57BL/6 mice were equally divided into 2 groups: vitiligo modeling group and vitiligo modeling + chronic restraint stress group; the mice in the vitiligo modeling + chronic restraint stress group were subjected to chronic restraint stress on day 9, that is, these mice were placed in centrifuge tubes and restrained for about 6 hours every day for 28 consecutive days; on days 7, 22, 29 and 38 after the start of vitiligo modeling, the above-mentioned behavioral indicators were determined by the elevated plus maze test and open field test in the 2 groups. Repeated measurement data in a single group were compared before and after treatment by using paired t-test, and repeated measurement data at multiple time points were compared by using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Results:By macroscopy, the mice gradually developed well-defined white patches on the tail skin during vitiligo modeling, which were similar to the clinical manifestations of vitiligo patients; on day 23, full-thickness epidermal immunofluorescence staining of the mouse tail tissues was conducted and showed obvious infiltration of CD8 + T cells and a decrease in the number of Melan-A-positive epidermal melanocytes under a laser confocal microscope, which were consistent with typical pathological characteristics of vitiligo; based on the macroscopic results and immunofluorescence findings, a total of 12 mouse models of vitiligo were successfully constructed on day 23. The elevated plus maze test showed that the number of entry into the open arms and the percentages of time spent in the open arms were significantly lower in the 12 mouse models of vitiligo on day 21 (2.33 ± 1.78 times, 5.01% ± 5.27%, respectively) than in those on day 8 (10.75 ± 2.30 times, 29.20% ± 12.48%, t = 9.63, 6.36, respectively, both P < 0.001) ; the open field test showed that the percentages of time spent in the central area and total distance traveled were also significantly lower in the mouse models on day 21 (2.31% ± 1.53%, 2 518.31 ± 528.38 cm, respectively) than in those on day 8 (4.47% ± 2.65%, 3 533.45 ± 465.47 cm, t = 2.40, 5.47, P = 0.036, < 0.001, respectively). In the chronic restraint stress test, a total of 14 mouse models of vitiligo were successfully constructed on day 23, including 5 in the vitiligo modeling group and 9 in the vitiligo modeling + chronic restraint stress group. There were no significant differences in the number of entry into the open arms, percentages of time spent in the open arms, percentages of time spent in the central area, and total distance traveled between the vitiligo modeling group and the vitiligo modeling + chronic restraint stress group on days 7, 22, 29, and 38 ( F = 0.21, 0.20, 0.46, 2.35, P = 0.889, 0.893, 0.719, 0.134, respectively) ; moreover, all the above indicators significantly changed over time (all P < 0.001), except for the total distance traveled ( P = 0.422) . Conclusion:The mouse models of vitiligo developed depression-like behavior at the early modeling stage, and the degree of depression could not be further deepened by chronic restraint stress on the basis of vitiligo modeling.
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Vitiligo is a dermatological condition of autoimmune origin, characterized by the acquired loss of pigmentation in the skin and mucous membranes. Inflammatory cytokines, including interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-21, IL-33, phosphodiester enzyme (PDE)-4, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, play a crucial role in the progression of vitiligo. Among these, the IFN-γ/chemokine ligand (CXCL) 10 axis is particularly significant. In recent times, the advent of targeted therapeutic approaches, focusing on modulating cytokines and their corresponding receptors implicated in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, has assumed paramount significance. JAK inhibitors and their combination therapy with phototherapy have been clinically proven to have promising therapeutic prospects. This review undertakes a comprehensive appraisal of the therapeutic efficacy and tailored drug selection pertaining to diverse biological agents employed in the management of vitiligo, aiming to provide valuable insights for clinical therapeutic decisions.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Ruyi Heibai Power （如意黑白散， RHP） in the treatment of vitiligo. MethodsTwenty-four C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group， high-dose and low-dose RHP groups， with 6 mice in each group. Model group， high- and low-dose RHP groups were all applied hydroquinone to establish vitiligo animal model. After modeling， High- and low-dose RHP groups were given 7.02 g/kg and 2.34 g/kg of RHP by gavage， respectively， while the blank group and model group were intragastrically given 10ml/kg of normal saline， once a day for 36 days. After administration， the skin lesions were observed with naked eye， and HE staining was used to observe the melanin content of the skin lesions. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in skin tissue. Immunofluorescence staining was used to measure the expression of programmed death receptor 1 （PD-1） in the skin lesion tissue. RT-PCR was used to detect programmed cell death ligand 1 （PD-L1） mRNA expression. ELISA was used to detect serum superoxide dismutase （SOD）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF-α）， and tyrosinase （TYR） levels. ResultsCompared to those in the blank group， the skin of the mice in the model group was pale， and the melanin content was significantly reduced under the microscope after HE staining； the rate of excellent and good skin lesions decreased， and the melanin granules in the cells around the epidermis and hair follicles decreased significantly； the expression of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in skin tissue increased significantly， and the expressions of PD-L1 mRNA and PD-1 decreased； the content of TYR decreased， while the content of SOD and TNF-α increased （P＜0.05）. Compared to those in the model group， the skin color of high- and low-dose RHP groups were deepened， and the melanin content increased； the rate of excellent and good skin lesions increased， as well as the melanin granules in the spinous cell layer， basal cells and hair follicles； the expression of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in the skin lesions decreased， while PD-L1 mRNA and PD-1 expression increased； the content of TYR increased， while the content of SOD and TNF-α decreased （P＜0.05）. Compared to the low-dose RHP group， the high-dose group had a larger pigment recovery area in the modeling area， an increased rate of excellent and good skin lesions， an increase in spinous cell layer， basal cells， and hair follicle melanin granules， a decrease in CD3+ and CD8+ T cells expression， an increase in the expression of PD-L1 mRNA and PD-1， an elevated TYR content， and decreased SOD and TNF-α contents （P＜0.05）. ConclusionRHP can increase skin melanin content of vitiligo mice.The mechanism of action may be related to activating the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway， and then reducing the destruction of melanocytes by T cell-mediated autoimmunity.
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Immunologic skin diseases encompass a spectrum of immune system-mediated autoimmune or inflammatory skin conditions,such as lupus erythematosus,psoriasis,atopic dermatitis,and vitiligo.Immunologic skin diseases are characterized by an unclear pathogenesis,complex disease processes,diverse clinical manifestations,and treatment difficulties,thereby presenting sig-nificant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.Notably,Chinese researchers have achieved numerous innovative research findings on immunologic skin diseases in recent years.Over the past decade,Chinese scholars have contributed 11 919 SCI papers to the field of immune dermatosis,with more than 10 being published in the world's leading medical journals.These publications include one in Sci-ence,one in Nature,two in Cell,three in The New England Journal of Medicine,two in The Lancet,and one in Nature Medicine,as well as four in Immunity.Here,we aim to present a comprehensive summary of Chinese research progress pertaining to the pathogene-sis,diagnosis and treatment of immunologic skin diseases.
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Ruxolitinib， a small molecule inhibitor， selectively targets Janus kinase （JAK） by competitively binding to adenosine triphosphate on the catalytic site of the JAK1 and JAK2 domain， thereby inhibiting JAK activation and signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT） phosphorylation and prevents the expressions of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Oral ruxolitinib has demonstrated promising efficacy for myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera. The topical Ruxolitinib cream， approved by the US FDA as the first non-segmental vitiligo home treatment drug， is set to be launched in domestic medical pioneer areas in August 2023 and is expected to bring about a breakthrough in the treatment of vitiligo. Clinical cases have also shown that Ruxolitinib cream has significant curative effects on atopic dermatitis， alopecia areata， and other conditions， indicating great application prospects.
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This study was conducted to determine if there is a relationship between vitiligo and ABO blood groups, the Rhesus (Rh) factor, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and vitamin D. For vitiligo analysis, two hundred subjects participated in this study, 100 vitiligo patients and 100 control cases (without vitiligo). ABO blood grouping and Rh typing were tested by a slide method. TSH testing involved 80 vitiligo patients and 80 controls (without vitiligo) and the hormone was analyzed by separating the serum in a centrifuge for two minutes and the results were obtained by Beckman fully automatic analyzer. For vitamin D, 50 vitiligo patients and 50 healthy people (without vitiligo) were included. The data on vitamin D were obtained from private laboratory services. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 26. P< 0.05), while no statistically significant difference in TSH serum levels between vitiligo cases and controls, was found (p-value > 0.05). Furthermore, despite showing that subjects with blood group O are more susceptible to vitiligo as compared to other groups, there was no significant association of vitiligo with ABO blood groups (p-value > 0.05). Similarly, the incidence of Rh positive and Rh negative was not statistically different between the two groups (p-value > 0.05). This study showed that vitiligo patients are often vitamin D deficient. This study highlights the need to evaluate vitamin D status in vitiligo patients to improve the level of skin pigment loss. It remains unknown whether vitamin D deficiency causes vitiligo. However, a collection of larger sample sizes of different ethnicities should be required to achieve a precise conclusion.