Evaluation of Human Melanocytes After the Use of PRP Versus Fractional CO2 Laser in Vitiligo

Structural Evaluation of Human Melanocytes After the Use of Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Versus Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser (Fr:CO2 Laser) in Treatment of Vitiligo: (A Histological, Immunohistochemical and Molecular Study )

Vitiligo is considered the most common chronic depigmentation disorder that affects around 0.5 -2% of the world population . In Africa , its prevelance is around 0.4% and 1.22 % in Assiut .

Treatment of vitiligo includes medical topical and systemic immune -suppressants ,phototherapy and surgical modalities .Despite the numerous treatment options , the treatment of choice is still controversial as the response is variable , unsatisfactory ,and requires a prolonged course. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are required .

Platelet -rich plasma (PRP) is a treatment modality which has been used over the last several years in various medical and surgical fields . It is composed of high concentration of platelets , several growth factors and plasma proteins such as fibrin, fironectin ,vitronectin .This is hypothesized to stimulate keratinocytes and fibroblasts proliferation .

Another treatment modality is the fractional CO2 (Fr: CO2) laser .There are theories that fractional CO2 laser causes release of various types of cytokines and growth factors that can stimulate migration of melanocytes and act as mitogens for melanogenesis .

Melanogenesis is a complex process with involvement of multiple signaling pathways. Therefore, there have been extensive efforts to reveal the molecular mechanisms that control melanogenesis as the main step for treating hypopigmentary skin disorders .

There is yet very limited histopathological and molecular information about how the signaling networks are involved in the initiation , progression and also treatment of vitiligo disease.

Vitiligo is considered the most common chronic depigmentation disorder that affects around 0.5 -2% of the world population .In Africa , its prevelance is around 0.4% and 1.22 % in Assiut .

Vitiligo may appear at any age and affect both sexes. It is a cosmetically disfiguring disorder characterized by formation of depigmented patches of skin and /or mucosa.It has a psychological devastating effect which could lead to low self-steam and poor body image .

Vitiligo disease has three types according to the distribution of lesions ; segmental, non-segmental and mixed vitiligo .It could be classified as progressing or stable according to the activity of the disease .

Vitiligo pathogenesis includes many theories (the combination theory). The important theories include: autoimmune destruction of melanocytes, genetic predisposition , altered redox status and free radical mediated melanocyte damage , impaired melanocyte adhesion or melanocytorrhagy and heightened sympathetic response and catecholamines/ neurotransmitter mediated melanocyte damage .

The treatment of vitiligo depends upon the clinical diagnosis and usually includes two strategies.

The first strategy aims to provide stability by arresting the progression of the active disease and therefore limiting the depigmented areas. The second strategy is repigmentation of the depigmented areas Treatment of vitiligo includes medical topical and systemic immune -suppressants ,phototherapy and surgical modalities .

First line of treatment includes topical corticosteroids ,calcineurin inhibitors and phototherapy . While the second line of treatment includes systemic corticosteroids , topical calcipotriol and excimer laser .Surgical methods include skin /single-hair grafting , autologous cultured melanocyte or epidermal suspension transplantations and immunomodulators .

Despite the numerous treatment options , the treatment of choice is still controversial as the response is variable , unsatisfactory ,and requires a prolonged course . High proportion of vitiligo patients are resistant to the treatment. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are required .

Platelet -rich plasma (PRP) is a treatment modality which has been used over the last several years in various medical and surgical fields .It is a simple and cheap new break thorough in soft tissue healing which has attracted the attention of dermatologists in the skin rejuvenation field .

PRP is composed of high concentration of platelets (seven times the normal blood level ), several growth factors and plasma proteins such as fibrin, fironectin ,vitronectin . Growth factors are known to regulate many processes such as cell migration , proliferation and differentiation .This is hypothesized to stimulate keratinocytes and fibroblasts proliferation .

Another treatment modality is the fractional CO2 (Fr: CO2) laser which represents a new modality for skin rejuvenation based on the theory of fractional photothermolysis . It has been used in treating facial photo-aging and scars . There are theories that fractional CO2 laser causes release of various types of cytokines and growth factors that can stimulate migration of melanocytes and act as mitogens for melanogenesis .

Melanogenesis is a complex process with involvement of multiple signaling pathways. Therefore, there have been extensive efforts to reveal the molecular mechanisms that control melanogenesis as the main step for treating hyperpigmentary skin disorders .

Molecular signaling pathways include p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) , c-Jun N-terminal kinase /stress -activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). These pathways are important in regulating cell proliferation ,differentiation and apoptosis of melanocytes .

Another important signaling pathway is protein kinase B ( Akt )which is involved in the differentiation of the keratinocytes. Activation of the Akt pathway triggers the differentiation process and is sustained until reaching the last stage of keratinocytes differentiation.

There is yet very limited histopathological and molecular information about how these signaling networks are involved in the initiation , progression and also treatment of vitiligo disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age from 20-60 years old
• Avoid using any other treatment modalities for vitiligo during the course of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant and lactating women
• local medications or laser therapy one month prior to the study
• bleeding disorders
• history of keloid formation
• photosensitivity
• seizure disorders