Biphasic pro-melanogenic and pro-apoptotic effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on human melanocytes: time-course study.

Background: The effects of retinoids on melanogenesis and their mechanism as depigmenting agents in topical therapy have not been fully elucidated. Conflicting data about their impact on melanogenic pathways have been reported.

Objective: To investigate the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on normal human melanocytes from Caucasian subjects.

New insights on therapy with vitamin D analogs targeting the intracellular pathways that control repigmentation in human vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a progressive depigmenting disorder affecting 0.5-2% of the population worldwide in which destruction of functional melanocytes from epidermis is a composite of multiple processes influencing melanocyte function and survival. A number of studies have recently reported that the treatment with vitamin D compounds or their combination with ultraviolet light or corticosteroids enhances repigmentation in vitiligo; however, the causal relationship at the cellular and molecular levels has not so far been investigated.