Segmental vitiligo: A model for understanding the recapitulation of repigmentation

Abstract

Previous studies on vitiligo have focused on NSV, and very few studies have addressed specifically SV [5, 7, 8, 16, 17, 33]. In order to gain further insights on how to treat this disorder more effectively, a careful analysis of how different modalities induce vitiligo repigmentation would be invaluable. SV is regarded as a stable disease once the initial melanocyte loss has ceased. Since the active destruction of melanocyte is no longer present, the recovery scheme of SV focuses on (1) the activation, migration, and functional development of melanoblasts, (2) the proliferation and migration of functional melanocytes, and (3) the impact of epidermal keratinocytes on pigment cells [41]. Through in vitro experimental results, much insight has been gained regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in vitiligo repigmentation scheme. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.