A team has discovered insights into how vitiligo, a skin pigmentation condition that affects approximately 1-2% of the global population, works.
Skin pigmentation issues are prevalent worldwide, with vitiligo being one of them, affecting around 1-2% of individuals globally. While the cause of pigmentation loss in vitiligo has been a mystery for a long time, a research group from Osaka Metropolitan University has found significant clues regarding this condition’s underlying mechanism.
In a study published in The Journal of Pathology, Lingli Yang, a Specially Appointed Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine and the lead author, along with Specially Appointed Professor Ichiro Katayama and other researchers, discovered that damage to the basement membrane zone that separates the epidermis from the dermis may hinder the attachment of pigment-producing cells in the affected area.
Additionally, they identified a heightened level of an enzyme in the skin impacted by vitiligo. This enzyme, known as matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), in excess could be responsible for the disruption of the basement membrane.
Experiments conducted with model mice displaying vitiligo-like depigmentation indicated that reducing MMP2 levels led to the recovery of pigment-producing cells.
“The findings from this research potentially offer a novel approach for treating vitiligo,” Professor Yang mentioned. “By inhibiting MMP2, we aim to promote the return of pigment-producing cells to the skin.”
