Could α MSH-MIFT Axis and IDH2 be Considered Promising Predictors of Non-segmental Vitiligo Response to NB-UVB Phototherapy?

Khaled Mohey El-Din Monib; Neveen Emad Sorour; Naglaa Fathy Alhusseini; Asmaa Gaber Abdou; Amal Yousif; Rehab Mohammed Salem

Could α MSH-MIFT Axis and IDH2 be Considered Promising Predictors of Non-segmental Vitiligo Response to NB-UVB Phototherapy?

J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2023 Jan;16(1):41-46.

Authors

Khaled Mohey El-Din Monib¹, Neveen Emad Sorour¹, Naglaa Fathy Alhusseini², Asmaa Gaber Abdou³, Amal Yousif⁴, Rehab Mohammed Salem⁵

Affiliations

¹ Drs. Monib and Sorour are Professors of Dermatology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine at Benha University in Benha, Egypt.
² Dr. Alhusseini is a Professor of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine at Benha University in Benha, Egypt.
³ Dr. Abdou is a Professor of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine at Menoufia University, Egypt.
⁴ Dr. Yousif is a Lecturer of Dermatology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine at Benha University in Benha, Egypt.
⁵ Dr. Salem is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine at Benha University in Benha, Egypt.

PMID: 36743971
PMCID: PMC9891215

Abstract

Background: The search for objective factors that help in predicting the response of vitiligo treatment is very important.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the effect of NB-UVB phototherapy on both the alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone-microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (α-MSH-MIFT) axis, and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) in non-segmental vitiligo (NSV).

Methods: This prospective clinical trial included 50 NSV patients and 50 healthy control subjects. α-MSH tissue levels as well as MITF and IDH2 immunostaining were assessed in normal and vitiliginous skin biopsies before treatment and then in the repigmented areas following 24 NB-UVB phototherapy treatment sessions using ELISA technique and immunohistochemical study, respectively.

Results: There was a significant negative correlation between baseline VASI scores and the tissue levels of α-MSH (p=0.006) and the expression of both MITF (p<0.00001) and IDH-2 (p= 0.001). The mean α-MSH tissue levels increased significantly after treatment (p<0.001). Tissue expression of both MTIF and IDH-2 was significantly upregulated following treatment (P-value <0.001). The percentage of improvement showed a significant positive correlation with the studied markers (p<0.00001).

Conclusion: α-MSH- MIFT axis and the antioxidant protein IDH2 are promising objective markers of non-segmental vitiligo severity, and are suggested as predictors of vitiligo response to treatment.