Virtual issue on Vitiligo

Most recent articles published on Vitiligo [2010] [2009] [2008] [2007] [2006] [2005]

Preface by Alain Taïeb

Common generalised (non segmental) vitiligo is an acquired, chronic disorder of pigmentation characterised by white patches, often symmetrical, which usually increase in size with time, due to a substantial loss of functioning epidermal and/or hair follicle melanocytes. Vitiligo affects approximately 1% of the world population.

In terms of hard outcome measures, vitiligo is a benign disorder. However, it is associated with a heavy psychosocial burden especially in pigmented individuals. In the field of pigment cell research, the contrast is marked with the potential killer pigment cell disease melanoma, a clearly identified public health priority in developed countries. A total of about 200 articles on vitiligo are released every year in the medical literature (compared to approximately 1000 on atopic dermatitis, 1300 for psoriasis common skin disorders more visible on fair skin, and 2700 for melanoma).

Globalisation and economic empowerment of South and East Asian countries are happily now driving forces in this field. Initiatives are awaited in the pharmaceutical industry because of a large and profitable market. The recently created Asian Society for Pigment Cell Research has put vitiligo as the top priority on its agenda. International Consortia, Task Forces and Special Interest Groups are trying to merge individual efforts into more successful actions. Patient support groups are helping physicians in their research and lobbying for more disease awareness in political circles. Rapid progress in cellular and developmental biology of melanocytes has attracted the attention of top scientists into pigment cell research. The pathophysiology of pigment cell disorders is a new frontier, and the elusive nature of vitiligo is apt to seduce penetrating minds. Vitiligo is probably going to become the new Grail of pigment cell science: how are melanocytes disappearing in vitiliginous skin and what can be done to fix the problem? The debate, as reflected by reviews published recently in the journal (1-5), is fuelled by a multitude of facts and arguments, but definitive answers need more work.

Pigment Cell Research has a strong commitment to support the best papers in this field. It has published in recent years original research papers, which reflect both the current trends in the field and the broad international basis of the journal: epidemiology (6), autoimmunity (6-7), genetics or association with predisposing traits (8-11), cytokines (12), pharmacology (13), oxidative stress (14-15), catecholamines (16), or phototherapy (17), as well as reviews on therapy (18). The journal is interested in scientific papers addressing the whole scope of the disease and its management. In order to be evaluated, vitiligo research should first define precisely the type of disease studied, its stage, extension, duration and ongoing treatments whenever research is made on skin biopsies or blood samples. The journal is more research than clinically oriented, but clinical reports suggesting new hypotheses, or providing new insights of particular relevance to pathophysiology or treatment of the disease, may be considered. Reviews are usually invited, but spontaneous submissions covering new areas relevant to vitiligo research are welcome.

Recent Articles Published on Vitiligo

2010

The unfolded protein response in melanocytes: activation in response to chemical stressors of the endoplasmic reticulum and tyrosinase misfolding 
Prashiela Manga, Sabina Bis, Kristen Knoll, Beremis Perez, Seth J. Orlow

First histopathological and immunophenotypic analysis of early dynamic events in a patient with segmental vitiligo associated with halo nevi
Nanny A.C. van Geel, Ilse G. Mollet, Sofie De Schepper, Esther P.M. Tjin, Karim Vermaelen, Rachael A. Clark, Thomas S. Kupper, Rosalie M. Luiten, Jo Lambert

Reduced Skin Homing By Functional Treg In Vitiligo
Jared Klarquist, Cecele J. Denman, Claudia Hernandez, Derek J. Wainwright, Faith M. Strickland, Andreas Overbeck, Shikar Mehrotra, Michael I. Nishimura, I. Caroline Le Poole

2009

Topical vitamin D3 analogues in the treatment of vitiligo
Davinder Parsad, A.J. Kanwar

Protease-activated receptor-2 downregulation is associated to vitiligo lesions 
Silvia Moretti, Romina Nassini, Francesca Prignano, Alessandra Pacini, Serena Materazzi, Antonella Naldini, Antonella Simoni, Gianna Baroni, Silvia Pellerito, Irene Filippi, Torello Lotti, Pierangelo Geppetti, Daniela Massi

CTLA4 and Generalized Vitiligo: Two Genetic Association Studies and a Meta-Analysis of Published Data
Stanca A. Birlea, Greggory S. LaBerge, Lucia M. Procopciuc, Pamela R. Fain, Richard A. Spritz

Update on skin repigmentation therapies in vitiligo
Rafael Falabella, Maria I. Barona

2008

An objective method for the assessment of vitiligo treatment
Slaheddine Marrakchi, Samir Bouassida, Taha J. Meziou, Hamida Turki and Abdelmajid Zahaf
Pages 106-107
February 2008

2007

Vitiligo puzzle: the pieces fall in place
Wiete Westerhof, Marco d'Ischia
Pages 345-359
October 2007

Vitiligo-associated multiple autoimmune disease is not associated with genetic variation in AIRE
Ying Jin, Dorothy C. Bennett, Anita Amadi-Myers, Paulene Holland, Sheri L. Riccardi, Katherine Gowan, Pamela R. Fain, Richard A. Spritz
Pages 402-404
October 2007

NALP1 and the inflammasomes: challenging our perception of vitiligo and vitiligo-related autoimmune disorders
Alain Taïeb
pages 260-262
August 2007

The genetics of generalized vitiligo and associated autoimmune diseases
Richard A. Spritz
pages 271-278
August 2007

Keratinocyte cultures from involved skin in vitiligo patients show an impaired in vitro behaviour
Sergio Bondanza, Riccardo Maurelli, Patrizia Paterna, Eleonora Migliore, Fabio Di Giacomo, Giovanni Primavera, Emanuel Paionni, Elena Dellambra and Liliana Guerra
pages 288-300
August 2007

Abnormal histological findings in active vitiligo include the normal-appearing skin
Flavia M.N. Pretti Aslanian, Rosangela A.M. Noé, Tullia Cuzzi, Absalom L. Filgueira
April 2007

The definition and assessment of vitiligo: a consensus report of the Vitiligo European Task Force
Alain Taïeb and Mauro Picardo on behalf of the other VETF members
Assessment Form to download here

2006

Activation of the Mitf promoter by lipid-stimulated activation of p38-stress signalling to CREB
Bidisha Saha, Suman Kumar Singh, Chinmoy Sarkar, Rabindranath Bera, Jagnyeswar Ratha, Desmond J. Tobin, Ranjan Bhadra
December 2006

A review and a new hypothesis for non-immunological pathogenetic mechanisms in vitiligo
Maria Lucia Dell'Anna, Mauro Picardo
October 2006

In vivo and in vitro evidence of dermal fibroblasts influence on human epidermal pigmentation
Muriel Cario-André, Catherine Pain, Yvon Gauthier, Vincent Casoli, Alain Taieb
October 2006

Antioxidant status of segmental and non-segmental vitiligo
EM Shajil, Rasheedunnisa Begum
April 2006

HLA class II haplotype DRB1*04-DQB1*0301 contributes to risk of familial generalized vitiligo and early disease onse t
Pamela R. Fain, Sunanda R. Babu, Dorothy C. Bennett , Richard A. Spritz
February 2006

2005

Early disease onset and increased risk of other autoimmune diseases in familial generalized vitiligo
Greggory Laberge, Christina M. Mailloux, Katherine Gowan, Paulene Holland, Dorothy C. Bennett, Pamela R. Fain, Richard A. Spritz
August 2005

Melanocyte-specific, cytotoxic T cell responses in vitiligo: the effective variant of melanoma immunity?
Silvia Garbelli, Stefania Mantovani, Belinda Palermo, Claudia Giachino
August 2005

CTLA4 polymorphisms are associated with vitiligo, in patients with concomitant autoimmune diseases
Anne Blomhoff, E. Helen Kemp, David J. Gawkrodger, Anthony P. Weetman, Eystein S. Husebye, Hanne E. Akselsen, Benedicte A. Lie and Dag E. Undlien
February 2005