Antioxidants are often used as an adjuvant therapy with ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy, whereas the mechanistic cascade involved in this combination therapy remains to be clarified. Using NCCMelb4M5 cells, which represent early melanocytic progenitors, we demonstrated oxidative stress plays a functional role in early differentiation of melanocytic progenitors. Excimer light induced c-kit expression on early melanocytic progenitors and increased reactive oxygen species level. When stimulated with hydrogen peroxide, the c-kit expression on early melanocytic progenitors also increased. Antioxidant vitamin C significantly reduced excimer light-induced c-kit expression (p<0.05). Based on our results, we propose that for stable vitiligo patients who started UVB phototherapy, antioxidants should be given after appearance of initial follicular repigmentation, since adequate oxidative stress is critical for initiating differentiation process of primitive pigment cells.
Date:
2016-05
Relation:
Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2016 May;136(5, Suppl. 1):S106.
