Expression of Epidermal c-Kit+ of Vitiligo Lesions Is Related to Responses to Excimer Laser

Abstract

BackgroundThe survival and growth of melanocytes are controlled by the binding of stem cell factor to its cell surface receptor c-kit+ (CD117). We have observed that c-kit+ melanocytes existed in some lesions of vitiligo, while Melan A+ cells were absent.ObjectiveTo verify possible relation between c-kit+ expression and treatment response in non-segmental vitiligo lesionsMethodsSkin biopsies were done from the center of the 47 lesions from the 47 patients with non-segmental vitiligo. Expression of c-kit+ and Melan A, and amounts of melanin in the epidermis were assessed in each lesion, and treatment responses to excimer laser were evaluated.ResultsThirty-five of the 47 lesions (74.5%) had c-kit+ phenotypes. There was significant difference of c-kit staining value between good responders in 3 months of excimer laser treatment (average of 24 sessions) and the others.Conclusionc-Kit expression in vitiliginous epidermis may be related to better treatment responses to excimer laser.

Epidermal Expression of Melanocyte Related Proteins in Normal Skin and in Vitiligo

“…Our study was clearly demonstrating that Melan-A expression significantly decreased in vitiligo skin compared to normal skin. This data is comparable to previously reported studies and minimal persistence of some positive cells is also recorded before (Mandelcorn-Monson RL, et al 2003)(Park OJ, et al 2016).CD117 was also examined as it is a known important and specific inducer of melanocytes and melanogenesis. Significant drop in expression of this was clearly demonstrated in vitiligo.…”

Activation of melanoblasts and melanocytes after treatment with monochromatic excimer light and narrowband‐ultraviolet B of skin of vitiligo patients

“…Park et al . treated excimer laser (308 nm) to 47 nonsegmental vitiligo patients twice weekly for 3 months (total doses = 15.8 J/cm 2 ).…”

“…One of these options, phototherapies using UVB, has frequently been used. Recently, phototherapies using monochromatic excimer light (MEL, 308 nm) and narrow‐band‐UVB (NB‐UVB, 311 nm) are gradually increasing . However, even in the patients treated with these phototherapies, excellent repigmentation is still difficult, and in addition, mechanism of the repigmentation process is not fully understood.…”

Narrow‐band UVB effects on cutaneous vitamin D receptor expression and serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D in generalized vitiligo

“…The clinical outcome score was defined to be 4 if repigmentation was 75%‐100%, 3 if repigmentation was 50%‐75%, 2 if repigmentation was 25%‐50%, 1 if repigmentation was less than 25%, and 0 when no repigmentation. According to the extent of repigmentation relative to baseline status, patients who responded to NB‐UVB therapy were classified into group A (good responder; ≥50% repigmentation, score 3 and 4), group B (moderate responder; 25%‐50% repigmentation, score 2), and group C (poor responder; <25% repigmentation, score 0 and 1) …”