Ann Dermatol.  2016 Aug;28(4):457-463. 10.5021/ad.2016.28.4.457.

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

• Park OJ
• Han JS
• Lee SH
• Park CS
• Won CH
• Lee MW
• Choi JH
• Chang SE

• KMID: 2344816
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2016.28.4.457

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The 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.
OBJECTIVE
To verify possible relation between c-kit+ expression and treatment response in non-segmental vitiligo lesions.
METHODS
Skin 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.
RESULTS
Thirty-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.
CONCLUSION
c-Kit expression in vitiliginous epidermis may be related to better treatment responses to excimer laser.

Keyword

c-Kit receptor; Excimer laser; Vitiligo

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Epidermis
Humans
Lasers, Excimer*
MART-1 Antigen
Melanins
Melanocytes
Phenotype
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
Skin
Stem Cell Factor
Vitiligo*
MART-1 Antigen
Melanins
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
Stem Cell Factor

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 There was apparent difference of c-kit+ staining value between good responders (group A) and the others by Mann-Whitney U test (p<0.05).

• 

  Fig. 2 Immunohistochemical staining for Fontana-Masson, Melan A, and c-kit+ (CD117) in sections of normal skin epidermis (A~C), good responder vitiligo lesions (D~F), and poor responder vitiligo lesion (G~I). Strong c-kit+ expression is present in normal epidermis (C) and moderate c-kit+ expression is present in good responder vitiligo lesional epidermis (F) compared to negative or almost negative c-kit+ expression in poor responder one (I). A~I: ×200.

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