308 nm excimer laser and tacrolimus ointment in the treatment of facial vitiligo: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the effects and safety of 308 nm excimer laser (308 nm EL) and tacrolimus ointment (TO) in the treatment of facial vitiligo (FV). We searched Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, CNKI, and WANGFANG from inception to June 1, 2023. Outcomes included overall response rate (ORR), total adverse reaction rate (TARR), recurrence rate at 3-month (RR-3) and recurrence rate at 6-month (RR-6). The outcome data were presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The risk of bias was assessed by Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and data analysis was performed by RevMan 5.4 software. This study included a total of 19 trials involving 2085 patients. When comparing 308 nm EL monotherapy with 308 nm EL plus TO, significant differences in the ORR (OR = 4.29, 95% CI [2.97, 6.19], I2 = 0%, P < 0.001), RR-3 (OR = 0.18, 95% CI [0.05, 0.69], I2 = 0%, P = 0.01), and RR-6 (OR = 0.38, 95% CI [0.14, 1.03], I2 = 39%, P = 0.06) were found between the two managements. When comparing TO monotherapy with TO plus 308 nm EL, its results showed significant differences in the ORR (OR = 4.21, 95% CI [2.90, 6.11], I2 = 0%, P < 0.001), TARR (OR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.22, 0.81], I2 = 4%, P = 0.009), and RR-3 (OR = 0.32, 95% CI [0.01, 8.03], P = 0.49) between the two modalities. The results of this study suggest that the combination of 308 nm EL and TO is more effective than either treatment alone for the treatment of FV.

PM2.5 induces apoptosis, oxidative stress injury and melanin metabolic disorder in human melanocytes.

Recent growing evidence suggested that particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) has strong toxic effects on skin systems. However, the possible effects and the mechanisms of PM2.5 on vitiligo remain poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to further investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of PM2.5 on vitiligo. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human melanocytes (PIG1 cells and PIG3V cells) were exposed to PM2.5 (0-200 µg/ml) for 24 h. The cell viability of the three cell lines was measured by a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The secretions of stem cell factor (SCF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in HaCaT cells were evaluated by ELISA. The melanin contents, cellular tyrosinase activity, apoptosis, cell migration, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels and related protein expressions in PIG1 cells and PIG3V cells were evaluated by a NaOH assay, DOPA assay, Annexin V-FITC/Propidium Iodide staining, MDA assay, SOD assay, GSH-Px assay and western blotting, respectively. It was demonstrated that PM2.5 exposure inhibited cell viability of all three cell lines (HaCaT, PIG1 and PIG3V cells). PM2.5 exposure attenuated the secretions of SCF and bFGF in HaCaT cells. Moreover, PM2.5 exposure attenuated the activation of tyrosinase and melanogenesis, inhibited cell migration, and induced apoptosis and oxidative stress injury in PIG1 cells and PIG3V cells. In addition, PM2.5 exposure caused upregulated cytosolic cytochrome C and activated caspase-3 in PIG1 cells and PIG3V cells. Furthermore, PM2.5 exposure activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathway. The present results suggested that PM2.5 exposure could inhibit the secretions of SCF and bFGF in keratinocytes, and cause oxidative stress injury and melanin metabolic disorder in melanocytes. Therefore, PM2.5 could be a new risk factor for vitiligo.