Biomaterial Database

[Repigmentation of vitiligo induced by oral photochemotherapy. Histoenzymological and ultrastructural study (author's transl)]. 1978

J P Ortonne, and D M MacDonald, and A Micoud, and J Thivolet

The authors studied by histoenzymology and electron microscopy, repigmentation induced by oral photochemotherapy (8-MOP-UVA) in 4 patients with vitiligo. The presence of hypertrophic melanocytes was demonstrated in the middle and deep portions of certain centre of islands of repigmentation. Melanocytes comparable to these were also observed in the epidermis of the peripheral collerette in the island of repigmentation. No melanocytic mitosis could be seen in the repigmenting epidermis. Ultrastructural study showed that the melanocytes of the repigmented zones were hyperactive. The melanosomes which they synthesize have a slightly larger size than the melanosomes of the neighbouring healthy skin. Their mode of intrakeratinocyte grouping was not altered. These results suggest that the origin of the melanocytes which repigment the vitiliginous epidermis under the influence of PUVA derives probably from a melanocytic reservoir localized in the hair follicle.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008544	Melanocytes	Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.	Melanocyte
D008730	Methoxsalen	A naturally occurring furocoumarin compound found in several species of plants, including Psoralea corylifolia. It is a photoactive substance that forms DNA ADDUCTS in the presence of ultraviolet A irradiation.	8-Methoxypsoralen,Ammoidin,Xanthotoxin,8-MOP,Deltasoralen,Dermox,Geroxalen,Meladinina,Meladinine,Meloxine,Methoxa-Dome,Méladinine,Oxsoralen,Oxsoralen-Ultra,Puvalen,Ultramop,8 MOP,8 Methoxypsoralen,8MOP,Methoxa Dome,Oxsoralen Ultra
D010778	Photochemotherapy	Therapy using oral or topical photosensitizing agents with subsequent exposure to light.	Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy,Photodynamic Therapy,Red Light PDT,Red Light Photodynamic Therapy,Therapy, Photodynamic,Light PDT, Red,PDT, Red Light,Photochemotherapies,Photodynamic Therapies,Therapies, Photodynamic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014820	Vitiligo	A disorder consisting of areas of macular depigmentation, commonly on extensor aspects of extremities, on the face or neck, and in skin folds. Age of onset is often in young adulthood and the condition tends to progress gradually with lesions enlarging and extending until a quiescent state is reached.