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Vitiligo as an inflammatory skin disorder: a therapeutic perspective
Author(s) -
Taïeb Alain
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2011.00939.x
Subject(s) - vitiligo , psoriasis , medicine , immune system , immunology , disease , atopic dermatitis , dermatology , innate immune system , pathology
Summary From a therapeutic standpoint, vitiligo is still regarded by many physicians as a simple problem of regenerative medicine, with the main aim to repopulate the depigmented skin with functional melanocytes from the margins of the lesions or from intact progenitors in hair follicles. However, recent research in vitiligo suggests that various local triggers alert the skin immune innate system and may precede adaptive immune responses targeting melanocytes. This scenario is close to that of other common skin inflammatory disorders like psoriasis and atopic, and suggests to target as a priority this clinically silent inflammatory component of he disease. This perspective highlights possible targets for intervention.