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

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. csesnumd@gmail.com
  • 2Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

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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