Narrow Band Ultraviolet B Treatment for Human Vitiligo Is Associated with Proliferation, Migration, and Differentiation of Melanocyte Precursors.

ABSTRACT: In vitiligo, the autoimmune destruction of epidermal melanocytes produces white spots that can be repigmented by melanocyte precursors from the hair follicles, following stimulation with UV light. We examined by immunofluorescence the distribution of melanocyte markers (C-KIT, DCT, PAX3, and TYR) coupled with markers of proliferation (KI-67) and migration (MCAM) in precursors and mature melanocytes from the hair follicle and the epidermis of untreated and narrow band UVB (NBUVB)-treated human vitiligo skin. NBUVB was associated with a significant increase in the number of melanocytes in the infundibulum and with restoration of the normal melanocyte population in the epidermis, which was lacking in the untreated vitiligo. We identified several precursor populations (melanocyte stem cells, m

SUBMITTER: Goldstein NB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4683025 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature