New trends in the regenerative therapy of vitiligo. Literature review

Vitiligo is the most common acquired skin depigmentation disorder characterized by progressive loss of pigmentation caused by the destruction of functional melanocytes in the epidermis. The pathogenesis consists in the interaction of genetic components, metabolic factors associated with cellular oxidative stress, adhesion of melanocytes to the epithelium and autoimmunity, which culminate in aggression against melanocytes. To date, the treatment of vitiligo, according to Russian and European clinical guidelines, consists in the appointment of various drug and non-drug methods: the use of topical and systemic glucocorticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, azathioprine, phototherapy, both in the form of monotherapy and their combination. In recent years, in connection with the development of cellular technologies, alternative methods of therapy based on the transplantation of autologous cultured and non-cultured melanocytes have become widespread in the treatment of vitiligo. The most promising options for vitiligo cell therapy are methods based not only on the transplantation of ready-made cellular structures, but also on the replacement of damaged cells with a transplant of pluropotent progenitor stem cells or their immature committed structures. This article is of an overview nature. The aim of the review is to update information on promising new treatments for vitiligo. A literature review was conducted using the PubMed, Cochrane Library, CyberLeninka and Internet databases to study clinical and preclinical data on the possibility of using innovative methods of regenerative medicine in patients with vitiligo. This review is addressed to medical researchers interested in the treatment of vitiligo.