PI: Dott.ssa Barbara Bellei

Vitiligo (VTG) is an acquired chronic autoimmune disfiguring skin disease affecting 0.1 2% of the population. While it can make its first appearance at all ages, VTG appears more frequently before 30 years of age. It is characterized by the progressive disappearance of melanocytes resulting in patches of skin depigmentation, occasionally associated with premature whiting, or greying of the hairs, eyelashes, and eyebrows. VTG has devastating impacts on the quality of life in affected individuals causing depression and social stigmatization. The treatment of VTG is challenging due to the complex pathogenesis combining genetic susceptibility, oxidative stress, intrinsic metabolic dysfunctions, melanocyte autoaggression, and failure of immune tolerance mechanisms. Despite several treatments, no current therapy can cure the disease

Project duration: 24 months

The project propose to target imperfect glucose metabolism since mitochondrial-associated DAMPs sustain chronic inflammation and activation of innate immune signaling.

The overall purpose of the study is to poof robust evidence for treating vitiligo as a metabolic disease. Thus, the primary outcome is the demonstration that common metabolic alterations in vtg patients withstand the inflammatory/immune patterns of vtg skin. Specifically, the use of PGZ, a commercially available anti-diabetic molecule, will be tested for preventing and reversing depigmentation in a pilot clinical study. A secondary outcome is the definition of serum metabolic markers of disease activity and therapeutic efficacy.