Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research最新文献

{"title":"Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Signature Can Predict Prognosis and Therapeutic Responses in Skin Cutaneous Melanoma","authors":"Yue Zheng,&nbsp;Weihuan Shao,&nbsp;Tongxin Ge,&nbsp;Shengfang Ge,&nbsp;Renbing Jia,&nbsp;Ludi Yang,&nbsp;Ai Zhuang","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.70005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.70005","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a lethal skin cancer with a poor prognosis and limited response to immunotherapy. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key contributors to tumor progression, therapy resistance, and immunosuppression. In this study, mRNA sequencing and clinical data from SKCM samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases to evaluate the prognostic significance, therapeutic implications, and potential for enhancing immunotherapy through targeting CAFs in SKCM. A CAF-related risk model comprising nine genes was developed, revealing that patients classified as low-risk exhibited superior survival outcomes and increased sensitivity to immunotherapy. Spearman correlation analysis identified significant associations between the risk score and the sensitivity to 40 drugs, as well as resistance to 17 drugs. Additionally, CAFs were categorized into three distinct subgroups in SKCM, with antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAFs) notably suppressing the infiltration of anti-tumor immune cells and strongly correlating with poor prognosis. In summary, the CAF-related risk model offers a robust prognostic tool for SKCM, capable of predicting both survival outcomes and therapeutic sensitivity. Moreover, the pivotal role of apCAFs within the immune microenvironment suggests that targeting these cells may enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143497380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synonymous but Significant: New Findings of Pathological Variants in Hermansky–Pudlak Syndrome","authors":"Junnosuke Kawaguchi,&nbsp;Ken Okamura,&nbsp;Toru Saito,&nbsp;Yosuke Arai,&nbsp;Sakuhei Fujiwara,&nbsp;Miwa Kitamura,&nbsp;Hideaki Tanizaki,&nbsp;Yutaka Hozumi,&nbsp;Tamio Suzuki","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.13221","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.13221","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and systemic complications, including bleeding tendencies. While 11 genes associated with HPS have been identified, cases of HPS5 remain exceedingly rare, particularly in Japan. Here, we report two Japanese patients with novel pathological HPS5 variants, expanding the genetic spectrum of this disorder. Both patients exhibited typical features of mild skin and hair hypopigmentation, and significant ocular involvement. Genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous nonsense variant, NG_008877.1 (NM_181507.2): c.2275G&gt;T, in both patients, inherited from their fathers. Additionally, maternal variants NG_008877.1 (NM_181507.2): c.2952-13G&gt;A and NG_008877.1 (NM_181507.2): c.1128A&gt;G were identified in patient 1 and patient 2, respectively. These variants, initially presumed non-pathogenic, were found to induce alternative splicing, leading to truncated protein production. Our findings highlight the functional importance of synonymous variants and their potential role in HPS. This report represents the first documented case of a synonymous pathogenic variant associated with HPS and underscores the need for comprehensive genetic and transcriptomic analyses in rare genetic disorders.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143475544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Compound Glycyrrhizin Followed by Phototherapy for the Treatment of Progressive Vitiligo in Children","authors":"Li Zhang,&nbsp;Jian Zhang,&nbsp;Suqing Liu,&nbsp;Zhengzhou Shi,&nbsp;Yijian Zhu,&nbsp;Min Jiang,&nbsp;Leihong Xiang","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.13226","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.13226","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Childhood vitiligo, distinct from its adult counterpart, presents unique treatment challenges. Glycyrrhizin inhibits the release of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein from keratinocytes, preventing melanocyte apoptosis and autophagy. Furthermore, the orally administered compound glycyrrhizin (OCG) effectively treats various autoimmune disorders, demonstrating long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability. This study compared the efficacy of OCG and oral prednisone (OP), followed by phototherapy, in patients with progressive childhood vitiligo at 52 weeks' follow-up. Fifty children with vitiligo were randomized into two groups according to treatment: OCG (50–150 mg/day) followed by phototherapy (<i>n</i> = 25) and OP (5–10 mg/day) followed by phototherapy (<i>n</i> = 25). At Week 24, a halt in disease progression (HDP) was observed in 20 (80%) patients in the OCG group and 21 (84%) in the OP group, with no significant difference (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.99)<i>.</i> However, the mean time to achieve HDP was significantly shorter in the OP group than in the OCG group (14.73 ± 4.84 vs. 19.13 ± 4.82 weeks; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). In addition, serum HMGB1 concentrations were significantly reduced after treatment with OCG at Week 24 (3.02 ± 0.83 vs. 0.95 ± 0.36 ng/mL [<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01]; OP, 2.79 ± 0.16 vs. 1.03 ± 0.34 ng/mL [<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01]). The decline in Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) score at the end of follow-up (i.e., Week 52) did not show a statistically significant difference between the OCG and OP groups (52.31% ± 14.86% vs. 55.71% ± 21.23%; <i>p</i> = 0.55). The therapeutic response of the clinical markers of progression was good and comparable between the OCG and OP groups. OCG demonstrated similar efficacy to OP followed by phototherapy in controlling disease activity and promoting repigmentation in children with vitiligo at 52 weeks of follow-up.</p>\u0000 <p>\u0000 <b>Trial Registration:</b> ChiCTR2400086844</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143424065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"List of Reviewers for PCMR","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.70004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.70004","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;Abdel-Malek, Zalfa&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Adegoke, Nurudeen&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ahmed, Mueen K.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Aktary, Zackie&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Arveiler, Benoît&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Barral, Duarte&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beasley, Aaron&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Becker, Therese&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bello, Danielle&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Belote, Rachel&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bertolotto, Corine&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bethany Perez, White&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Birlea, Stanca&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bonilla, Carolina&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Boyle, Glen&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Braun, Stephan&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bruna da Silva, Soley&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Brzuzan, Pawel&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Buchbinder, Elizabeth&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Caltabiano, Rosario&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Capparelli, Claudia&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Caro, Tim&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Catherine Van, Raamsdonk&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ceol, Craig&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapman, Paul&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chen, Limin&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chen, Mark Jinan&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chen, Suzie&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chen, Xiang&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chhabra, Yash&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chung, Bo-Young&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cloutier, Jeffrey&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Colebatch, Andrew&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cornell, Robert&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Corrie, Philippa&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cui, Rutao&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cust, Anne&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;D'Arcy, Pádraig&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dai, Hongyan&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Daud, Adil&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Davar, Diwakar&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Davidson, Irwin&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Davies, Michael&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Day, Chi-Ping&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Diefenbach, Russell&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;D'Orazio, John&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dreijerink, Koen&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dumaz, Nicolas&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Elder, David&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Eleftheriadou, Viktoria&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Engel, Nora&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Esmat, Samia&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fargnoli, Maria-Concetta&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fisher, David&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fukuda, Keitaro&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ganesan, Anand&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Garcia-Borron, Jose-Carlos&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gibbs, David&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Glutsch, Valerie&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Goding, Colin&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Greg, Barsh-Greg&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Haass, Nikolas&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Haferkamp, Sebastian&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Haworth, Simon&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ho, Yuh-Shan&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Imyanitov, Evgeny N.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Indra, Arup&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Inozume, Takashi&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Inyushin, Mikhail&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Isaacs, James&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ivana de la, Serna&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jaishankar, Dinesh&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jenkins, Russell W.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Johansson, Peter&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Joshua, Anthony&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kang, Hee-Young&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kaur, Jasbir&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kazmi, Hasan&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kemp, Michael&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kerr, Kathleen&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Khan, Muzammil&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kono, Michihiro&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Koshkin, Sergei&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kulkarni, Rajan&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kunisada, Takahiro&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lan, Cheng-Che&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Larue, Lionel&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lau, Eric&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Laudet, Vincent&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Layer, Paul&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Le, Poole Caroline&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lee, Jenny&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Levy, Carmit&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lim, Su&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Litaiem, Noureddine&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Liu, Feng&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Liu, Liang&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Liu, Mengyu&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lo, Serigne&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lockhart, John&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Loftus, Stacie&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lv, Jinpeng&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Maher, Nigel Gordon&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Maria-Engler, Silvya&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Markowitz, Joseph&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Martinez, Glaucia&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;McFarlane, Sarah&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meierjohann, Svenja&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Miura, Naoki&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Monkkonen, Teresa&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Montoliu, Lluis&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Morris, Molly&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nagore, Eduardo&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Najafi, Masoud&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nakajima, Kimiko&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Namikawa, Kenjiro&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Napolitano, Alessandra&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nardone, Beatrice&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nishigori, Chikako&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Oancea, Elena&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Oiso, Naoki&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Okamura, Ken&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Orloff, Marlana&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Osawa, Masatake&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ouwerkerk, Wouter&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ouyang, Jenny Q.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Park, John&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Parsad, Davinder&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Peralta-Pedrero, María Luisa&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Perry, Curtis&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pezzella, Alessandro&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pfeffer, Ulrich&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Picardo, Mauro&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Post, Nicoline F.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Prajapati, Kushal&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Premi, Sanjay&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pu","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pcmr.70004","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143389242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Unique Signature for Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Melanoma Metastases","authors":"Saskia Tauch,&nbsp;Joschka Hey,&nbsp;Bettina Kast,&nbsp;Nicolas Gengenbacher,&nbsp;Lena Weiß,&nbsp;Melanie Sator-Schmitt,&nbsp;Sabrina Lohr,&nbsp;Alexander Brobeil,&nbsp;Peter Schirmacher,&nbsp;Jochen Utikal,&nbsp;Hellmut G. Augustin,&nbsp;Christoph Plass,&nbsp;Peter Angel","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.70002","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent a central cell population of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses of primary tumors of different cancer entities yielded different classifications of CAF subsets underscoring the heterogeneity of CAFs within the TME. Here, we analyzed the transcriptional signatures of approximately 8400 CAFs and normal fibroblasts by scRNA-seq and compared genetic profiles of CAFs from murine melanoma primary tumors to CAFs from corresponding melanoma lung metastases. This revealed distinct subsets for primary tumor and metastasis-specific CAF populations, respectively. Combined with the spatial characterization of metastasis CAFs at the RNA and protein level, scRNA analyses indicate tumor-dependent crosstalk between neutrophils and CAFs, mediated via SAA3 and IL1b-related signaling pathways, which can be recapitulated in vitro. Analyzing tissue sections of human patient samples, this interaction was found to be present in human melanoma metastasis. Taken together, our data highlight unique characteristics of metastasis CAFs with potential therapeutic impact for melanoma metastasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pcmr.70002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143379902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Melanin and Neurotransmitter Signalling Genes Are Differentially Co-Expressed in Growing Feathers of White and Rufous Barn Owls","authors":"Anne-Lyse Ducrest,&nbsp;Luis M. San-Jose,&nbsp;Samuel Neuenschwander,&nbsp;Emanuel Schmid-Siegert,&nbsp;Céline Simon,&nbsp;Marco Pagni,&nbsp;Christian Iseli,&nbsp;Hannes Richter,&nbsp;Nicolas Guex,&nbsp;Tristan Cumer,&nbsp;Emmanuel Beaudoing,&nbsp;Mélanie Dupasquier,&nbsp;Pauline Charruau,&nbsp;Pauline Ducouret,&nbsp;Ioannis Xenarios,&nbsp;Jérôme Goudet,&nbsp;Alexandre Roulin","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.70001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.70001","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Regulation of melanin-based pigmentation is complex, involving multiple genes. Because different genes can contribute to the same pigmentation phenotype, the genes identified in model organisms may not necessarily apply to wild species. In the barn owl (<i>Tyto alba</i>), ventral plumage colour ranges from white to rufous, with genetic variation in the melanocortin 1 receptor gene (<i>MC1R</i>) accounting for at least a third of this variation. In the present study, we used transcriptomic data to compare the gene expression profiles of growing feathers from nestlings with different <i>MC1R</i> genotypes. We identified 21 differentially expressed genes, nine of which are involved in melanogenesis, while seven are related to neurotransmitter function or synaptic activity. With the exception of <i>CALB1</i>, all of the differentially expressed genes were upregulated in rufous owls compared to white barn owls. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to link melanin production with neurotransmitter-related genes, and we discuss possible evolutionary explanations for this connection.</p>","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pcmr.70001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143248377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sensory Symptoms as an Early Manifestation of Active Vitiligo: A Case–Control Clinical and Molecular Study","authors":"Hagar El Sayed,&nbsp;Hala El Wakeel,&nbsp;Zeinab Nour,&nbsp;Riham Mohyeeldeen,&nbsp;Vanessa Hafez","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.13223","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pcmr.13223","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vitiligo pathogenesis is complex. There is some evidence in support of the neurohormonal pathways involved. Although considered a nonpruritic condition, some patients may experience itching, which can occur ahead of the appearance of the patches. We aimed to assess sensory symptoms in active and stable vitiligo patients and to measure 3 neuropeptide expressions in their lesional skin (neuropeptide Y [NPY], calcitonin gene–related peptide [CGRP], and nerve growth factors [NGF]) to correlate neuropeptide levels and sensory symptoms, with vitiligo activity. This case–control study included 85 patients, aged 18 years and older, analyzed into active or stable vitiligo groups. Patients were screened for itching or other abnormal neurological sensations such as paresthesia and numbness. The Vitiligo Disease Activity Score, Vitiligo Signs of Activity Score, and dermoscopic score were performed to assess disease activity. Three neuropeptides were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in skin biopsies from the edge of vitiligo lesions. A normal control group was also included. Results showed that 24.7% of patients had sensory symptoms: itching (18.8%), paresthesia (2.4%), and numbness (3.5%). The NGF, CGRP, and NPY levels were significantly higher in skin of normal controls compared to stable and active vitiligo patients. They were lowest in active vitiligo skin (<i>p</i> = 0.001, 0.016, and 0.01, respectively). NGF was the most relevant neuropeptide to vitiligo activity and sensory manifestations. In conclusion, almost one-third of the patients with active vitiligo reported sensory symptoms, predominantly itching, thus sensory manifestations may suggest a prodroma of activity and could be included in the screening tools for vitiligo activity.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Trial Registration:</b> www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05390164).</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143045089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The 21st International Congress of the Society for Melanoma Research","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.13218","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pcmr.13218","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143051198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Melanocyte and Nerve Fiber Cross-Talk, Facilitated Also by Semaphorin-4A, Enhances UV-B-Induced Melanogenesis","authors":"Onur Egriboz,&nbsp;Markus Fehrholz,&nbsp;Moe Tsutsumi,&nbsp;Marta Sousa,&nbsp;Jeremy Cheret,&nbsp;Wolfgang Funk,&nbsp;Maximilian Kückelhaus,&nbsp;Ralf Paus,&nbsp;Kentaro Kajiya,&nbsp;Ilaria Piccini,&nbsp;Marta Bertolini","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.13217","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pcmr.13217","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Epidermal melanocytes form synaptic-like contacts with cutaneous nerve fibers, but the functional outcome of these connections remains elusive. In this pilot study we used our fully humanized re-innervated skin organ culture model to investigate melanocyte-nerve fiber interactions in UV-B-induced melanogenesis. UV-B-irradiation significantly enhanced melanin content and tyrosinase activity in re-innervated skin compared to non-innervated controls, indicating that neuronal presence is essential for exacerbating pigmentation upon UV-B irradiation in long-term culture. Comparative transcriptomic analysis between laser-capture-microdissected melanocytes from freshly embedded human skin and published microarray data on in vitro primary melanocytes identified Semaphorin-4A (SEMA4A) as possible mediator of melanocyte-nerve fibers interactions. SEMA4A protein levels in Gp100⁺-epidermal melanocytes were significantly higher in re-innervated skin, and reduced by UV-B treatment. Analysis of melanocytes in vitro showed reduced SEMA4A protein expression 24 h after UV-B-irradiation while SEMA4A secretion into the medium was increased. Beta-tubulin expression and axon growth in sensory neurons were stimulated by conditioned media (CM) from UV-B irradiated melanocytes. When this neuronal-conditioned medium was transferred to fresh melanocytes, melanin content increased, but only if neurons had been treated with CM from UV-B irradiated melanocytes. These findings highlight the importance of melanocyte-neuron interactions for UV-B-induced melanogenesis and suggest that secreted proteins (e.g., SEMA4A) can function as a novel target to treat hypo- and hyperpigmentation disorders.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142997085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Joining PCMR: Aspirations for Editorial Contributions","authors":"Tokimasa Hida","doi":"10.1111/pcmr.70000","DOIUrl":"10.1111/pcmr.70000","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;It is an honor and privilege to join &lt;i&gt;Pigment Cell &amp; Melanoma Research&lt;/i&gt; (PCMR) as an Associate Editor. I am committed to fostering the collaborative perspective provided by PCMR's support from experts in chemistry, biology, dermatology, oncology, pathology, and many other fields. This interdisciplinary approach is a unique strength of the journal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;My academic path began with a deep interest in cellular mechanisms, which led me to work under Professor Kowichi Jimbow at Sapporo Medical University. I began my research concerning intracellular vesicular transport as part of Professor Jimbow's group, focusing on how these processes influence pigmentation and melanosome formation. This foundational experience solidified my commitment to investigating the cellular and molecular intricacies of melanocyte biology.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From 2005 to 2007, I had the privilege of conducting research under Professor Dorothy C. Bennett at St George's University of London. During those years, my work concentrated on the eumelanin–pheomelanin switching mechanism—a critical process influencing pigmentation phenotypes. That period both expanded my scientific expertise and afforded me a broader understanding of the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in skin pigmentation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I subsequently transitioned to a clinical focus while maintaining a strong connection to investigative dermatology, guided by the mentorship of Professor Toshiharu Yamashita. In my clinical practice in Sapporo, Japan, I have been dedicated to diagnosing and elucidating the pathogenesis of hereditary skin diseases. This work has offered invaluable insights into the genetic underpinnings of dermatological conditions and the direct impact of research findings on the treatment and management of patients. I have simultaneously delved into the genetic abnormalities underlying melanoma, collaborating with Professor Hisashi Uhara in the same department. My research focuses on racial differences in genetic mutations associated with melanoma and their implications for treatment strategies. By addressing these disparities, I aim to contribute to the development of therapies tailored to specific racial groups, ultimately improving outcomes and advancing equity in melanoma care.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As an Associate Editor, I am delighted to be part of the editorial team for a journal with such a rich history and significant impact in the field of pigment cell and melanoma research. My goal is to support the vision and leadership of Professor Caroline Le Poole and to collaborate closely with fellow Associate Editors to ensure the continued excellence and relevance of PCMR. Moreover, I am passionate about broadening the journal's reach beyond the pigment cell research community to engage a wider audience and increase readership, ultimately amplifying the journal's influence across diverse fields of science and medicine.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beyond my professional endeavors, I am deeply passionate about mentoring young scie","PeriodicalId":219,"journal":{"name":"Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pcmr.70000","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142997083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}