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Tissue-resident Memory T Cells Expression Among the Repigmentation Patterns Induced by NB-UVB Phototherapy in Vitiligo

Completed
Conditions
Vitiligo
Registration Number
NCT05506995
Lead Sponsor
Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosí
Brief Summary

Vitiligo is the most commonly acquired depigmentation disorder characterized by selective destruction of melanocytes resulting in well-circumscribed achromic macules. Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) are memory T lymphocyte subsets that reside in the skin, lack recirculation, proliferate locally, produce cytokines, and may be implicated in relapses. NB-UVB Phototherapy induces repigmentation in certain patterns. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of TRM cells on vitiligo lesions, and after phototherapy by repigmentation pattern.

Detailed Description

Vitiligo is the most commonly acquired depigmentation disorder characterized by the selective destruction of melanocytes. Its etiology is not yet fully understood, but the most accepted hypotheses are genetic predisposition, environmental factors, oxidative stress and immune response. In relation with the latter, the damage-associated molecular patterns activate TRM cells and induce interferon-gamma that release CXCL9/10, recruiting cytotoxic CD8+ that ultimately destroys melanocytes. Furthermore, the lesions recur 40% in the first year and in the same site, suggesting local autoimmune response by TRM cells.

The TRM cells are memory T lymphocyte subsets that reside in the skin, lack recirculation, proliferate locally, and produce cytokines. TRM cells express the CD69+CD103+ surface markers. Moreover, TRM cells express specific transcription factors like Hobbit, Blimp1, Runx3 and Notch1, which regulate their differentiation and survival.

Interleukin (IL)-15 stimulates Hobbit, which drives TRM cells long-term maintenance by blocking CCR7-S1PR1 and promoting the expression of CD103+. Blimp1 is essential for the differentiation of TRM cells, as it inhibits the differentiation of naive T cells into circulating-memory T cells, and regulates the effector function by stimulating granzyme B and promoting the expression of CD69+. Runx3 is essential for TRM cells long-term maintenance by promoting CD103+, which can also induce Blimp1 and Hobbit. Notch1 is essential for the maintenance of CD103+, facilitating the TRM-epithelium linking. Both TRM cells and central-memory T cells have been found in vitiligo lesions, and the CD69+CD103+ TRM cells are increased in vitiligo skin.

NB-UVB phototherapy is the first line treatment for vitiligo involving more than 10 percent of the body surface area, with an average response rate of 67%. It promotes repigmentation by differentiation and migration of perilesional melanocytes, tyrosinase increase and inhibition of effector and memory T cells. NB-UVB promotes different patterns of repigmentation such as follicular, marginal, and diffuse. The NB-UVB exposure causes a decrease in the transforming factor beta that maintain the expression of CD103+, but there is no data about the CD69+ modification, suggesting a possible effect on TRM cells.

Vitiligo relapses tend to be at the same site of previous lesions, suggesting local autoimmunity by the TRM cells that could be modified by UVB-NB phototherapy. Phototherapy can inhibit effector and memory-T cells; however its effect on TRM cells in vitiligo and their modification is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of TRM cells on vitiligo lesions, and following NB-UVB phototherapy by repigmentation pattern.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
11
Inclusion Criteria
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Symmetric vitiligo
  • Affected body surface greater than 10%
  • Patients with follicular, marginal and diffuse repigmenting patterns
  • No previous topical or systemic treatment in the previous 2 and 3 months, respectively
  • Signed informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Concomitant treatment or systemic diseases
  • Pregnancy
  • Drugs intake
  • Mental disorders
  • Acral, universal or segmental vitiligo

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Tissue-resident memory T cellsUp to 1 year

To quantify the expression of Tissue-resident memory T cells before and after phototherapy

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Tissue-resident memory T cells among the repigmentation patternsUp to 1 year

To quantify the expression of Tissue-resident memory T cells among the repigmentation patterns induced by NB-UVB phototherapy

Arrangment of the Tissue-resident memory T cells among the repigmentation patternsUp to 1 year

To show and quantify the fluorescence intensity of the CD69+CD103+ TRM cells among the repigmentation patterns induced by NB-UVB phototherapy

TRM transcriptional factors profileUp to 1 year

To quantify the TRM transcriptional factors expression in lesional skin and between the repigmentation patterns.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Dermatology Department. Hospital Central "Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto"

🇲🇽

San Luis Potosí, Mexico

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