Betamethasone Activates Cultured Amelanotic Melanocytes Derived From Outer Root Sheath of Human Hair Follicle

    January 2008 in “ Linchuang pifuke zazhi ”
    LI Cheng-rang
    TLDR Betamethasone activates and increases the growth of certain skin cells from hair follicles.
    The study investigated the effects of betamethasone (BT) on amelanotic melanocytes (AMMC) from human hair follicles. Using various concentrations of BT, researchers found that BT increased the expression of TYR and TRP-1, but not TRP-2, and enhanced tyrosinase activity and melanin content in a concentration-dependent manner. Laser confocal scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed changes in melanosome stages, indicating that BT could activate and induce the proliferation of AMMC. The findings suggested that the effectiveness of glucocorticoid treatment for vitiligo might be due to the activation and proliferation of AMMC.
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