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Kang TJ, Lee SY, Yoon S, Kim EG, Kim JO, Kim JS, Park J, Nam KH. PCSK9 Inhibitors and the Risk of Vitiligo: A Mendelian Randomization Study. J Invest Dermatol 2024:S0022-202X(24)01985-7. [PMID: 39127093 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Lipid-lowering agents have been suggested as a therapeutic option for vitiligo on the basis of the potential pathogenic role of lipid metabolism abnormalities. We aimed to explore the impact of genetically proxied lipid-lowering agents on the risk of vitiligo and potentially associated mediators. GWAS summary statistics for European ancestry were extracted from the largest available meta-analysis for vitiligo: the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium for 7 lipid profiles and 2 large biobanks, UK Biobank and deCODE, for 4719 proteins. After identifying lipid-lowering agents with genetically proxied protective effects against vitiligo using lipid-lowering and protein-inhibition Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, multivariable and 2-step MR analyses were conducted to identify potential mediators between lipid-lowering agents and vitiligo. Lipid-lowering MR indicated a potential role of PCSK9 in reducing the vitiligo risk (OR [95% confidence interval] = 0.71 [0.52-0.95]), which was replicated in PCSK9-inhibition MR analyses across 2 separate biobanks (UK Biobank: OR [95% confidence interval] = 0.82 [0.71-0.96]; deCODE: OR [95% confidence interval] = 0.78 [0.67-0.91]). Multivariable MR suggested that well-known lipid profiles do not mediate the relationship between PCSK9 and vitiligo, whereas 2-step MR analyses identified 5 potential protein mediators (CCN5, CXCL12, FCRL1, legumain, and FGF2). Hence, PCSK9 inhibitor may attenuate the vitiligo risk; PCSK9 and the potential protein mediators can serve as promising novel therapeutic targets for its effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Jong Kang
- Department of Dermatology, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, South Korea
| | | | | | | | | | - Jong-Seung Kim
- Department of Medical Informatics, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, South Korea; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - Jin Park
- Department of Dermatology, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, South Korea; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - Kyung-Hwa Nam
- Department of Dermatology, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, South Korea; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea.
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Rosenberg FM, Kamali Z, Voorberg AN, Oude Munnink TH, van der Most PJ, Snieder H, Vaez A, Schuttelaar MLA. Transcriptomics- and Genomics-Guided Drug Repurposing for the Treatment of Vesicular Hand Eczema. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:476. [PMID: 38675137 PMCID: PMC11054470 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Vesicular hand eczema (VHE), a clinical subtype of hand eczema (HE), showed limited responsiveness to alitretinoin, the only approved systemic treatment for severe chronic HE. This emphasizes the need for alternative treatment approaches. Therefore, our study aimed to identify drug repurposing opportunities for VHE using transcriptomics and genomics data. We constructed a gene network by combining 52 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from a VHE transcriptomics study with 3 quantitative trait locus (QTL) genes associated with HE. Through network analysis, clustering, and functional enrichment analyses, we investigated the underlying biological mechanisms of this network. Next, we leveraged drug-gene interactions and retrieved pharmaco-transcriptomics data from the DrugBank database to identify drug repurposing opportunities for (V)HE. We developed a drug ranking system, primarily based on efficacy, safety, and practical and pricing factors, to select the most promising drug repurposing candidates. Our results revealed that the (V)HE network comprised 78 genes that yielded several biological pathways underlying the disease. The drug-gene interaction search together with pharmaco-transcriptomics lookups revealed 123 unique drug repurposing opportunities. Based on our drug ranking system, our study identified the most promising drug repurposing opportunities (e.g., vitamin D analogues, retinoids, and immunomodulating drugs) that might be effective in treating (V)HE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fieke M. Rosenberg
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; (F.M.R.); (A.N.V.)
| | - Zoha Kamali
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands (H.S.)
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan P.O. Box 81746-7346, Iran
| | - Angelique N. Voorberg
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; (F.M.R.); (A.N.V.)
| | - Thijs H. Oude Munnink
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Peter J. van der Most
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands (H.S.)
| | - Harold Snieder
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands (H.S.)
| | - Ahmad Vaez
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands (H.S.)
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan P.O. Box 81746-7346, Iran
| | - Marie L. A. Schuttelaar
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; (F.M.R.); (A.N.V.)
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Research Progress on Targeted Antioxidant Therapy and Vitiligo. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:1821780. [PMID: 35320978 PMCID: PMC8938057 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1821780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Vitiligo is a common acquired depigmenting disease characterized by the loss of functional melanocytes and epidermal melanin. Vitiligo has a long treatment cycle and slow results, which is one of the most difficult challenges for skin diseases. Oxidative stress plays an important role as an initiating and driving factor in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Antioxidant therapy has recently become a research hotspot in vitiligo treatment. A series of antioxidants has been discovered and applied to the treatment of vitiligo, which has returned satisfactory results. This article briefly reviews the relationship between oxidative stress and vitiligo. We also describe the progress of targeted antioxidant therapy in vitiligo, with the aim of providing a reference for new drug development and treatment options for this condition.
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de França E, dos Santos RVT, Baptista LC, Da Silva MAR, Fukushima AR, Hirota VB, Martins RA, Caperuto EC. Potential Role of Chronic Physical Exercise as a Treatment in the Development of Vitiligo. Front Physiol 2022; 13:843784. [PMID: 35360245 PMCID: PMC8960951 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.843784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive skin depigmentation and the appearance of white patches throughout the body caused by significant apoptosis of epidermal melanocytes. Despite not causing any physical pain, vitiligo can originate several psychosocial disorders, drastically reducing patients' quality of life. Emerging evidence has shown that vitiligo is associated with several genetic polymorphisms related to auto-reactivity from the immune system to melanocytes. Melanocytes from vitiligo patients suffer from excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by defective mitochondria besides a poor endogenous antioxidant system (EAS). This redox imbalance results in dramatic melanocyte oxidative stress (OS), causing significant damage in proteins, lipid membranes, and DNA. The damaged melanocytes secret damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMPs), inducing and increasing inflammatory gene expression response that ultimately leads to melanocytes apoptosis. Vitiligo severity has been also associated with increasing the prevalence and incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) or associated disorders such as insulin resistance and hypercholesterolemia. Thus, suggesting that in genetically predisposed individuals, the environmental context that triggers MetS (i.e., sedentary lifestyle) may also be an important trigger for the development and severity of vitiligo disease. This paper will discuss the relationship between the immune system and epidermal melanocytes and their interplay with the redox system. Based on state-of-the-art evidence from the vitiligo research, physical exercise (PE) immunology, and redox system literature, we will also propose chronic PE as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat and prevent vitiligo disease progression. We will present evidence that chronic PE can change the balance of inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state, improve both EAS and the mitochondrial structure and function (resulting in the decrease of OS). Finally, we will highlight clinically relevant markers that can be analyzed in a new research avenue to test the potential applicability of chronic PE in vitiligo disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias de França
- Human Movement Laboratory, São Judas University, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Liliana C. Baptista
- Faculty of Sport, Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Center for Exercise Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL United States
- Targeted Exercise, Microbiome and Aging Laboratory, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL United States
| | - Marco A. R. Da Silva
- Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Physical Education, Universidade da Amazônia, Belém, Brazil
| | - André R. Fukushima
- Centro Universitário das Américas – FAM, São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde – IGESP – FASIG, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Raul A. Martins
- Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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