The Vascular Characteristics

BACKGROUND: Melasma is developed or aggravated by UV radiation, sex hormone, and genetic predisposing factors, however the exact mechanism of pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Previous studies indicated that dermal environment such as fibroblasts may have an important role on the development of melasma. Also, it was suggested that interactions between the altered cutaneous vasculature and melanocytes may have an influence on the development of pigmentation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the vascular characteristics of melasma and expression of VEGF, a major angiogenic factor, and its receptor in lesional melasma skin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Erythema intensity was quantified by the increase of the a* parameter using a colorimeter. 2 mm punch biopsy skin samples were obtained from lesional and non-lesional facial skin of 50 Korean women with melasma. The immunohistochemistry was taken to determine the expression of factor VIIIa and VEGF in melasma. RESULTS: The values of a* was significantly higher in the melasma lesion than that of perilesional normal skin. Computer-assisted image analyses of factor VIIIa-stained sections revealed a significant increase of both the number and the size of dermal blood vessels in the lesional melasma skin. In lesional melasma skin, the expression of VEGF was significantly increased and melanocytes were positively stained with VEGFR-2. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that increased vascularity is one of the major findings in melasma and VEGF may be a major angiogenic factor for altered vessels in melasma. The relationship between vessel proliferation and melanogenesis needs further research.

Author dc:creator

• 김, 은형

Contributors dc:contributor

• 강, 희영
• 대학원 의학과
• 105175

• melasma
• angiogenesis
• vascular
• endothelial growth factor

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

http://dcoll.ajou.ac.kr:9080/dcollection/jsp/common/DcLoOrgPer.jsp?sItemId=000000002059
000000002059

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.ajou.ac.kr:201003/1343