The story of melanocyte: a long way from bench to bedside.

Skin is composed of major layers, namely a superficial epidermis and a deeper dermis. The color of skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, which is produced by cells called melanocytes. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal. A number of more noticeable disorders, namely albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs. Vitiligo is associated with significant psycho-social morbidity and a major effect on quality of life. Topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, phototherapy and surgery are the most common treatments for melanoma. However, there are many patients who do not respond to any of these modalities. The transplantation of cultured or non-cultured melanocyte is the most important treatment for hypopigmentory disorders. This study aims at reviewing the history of melanocyte cultivation, and evaluating the effectiveness of transplantation of cultured cells. For this purpose, the authors examined the initial process of isolation, characterization, and transplantation of epidermal cells. This review, thus, summarizes the current understanding of the cutaneous pigmentary system from the start of synthesis in the pigment cells, along with the response of repigmentation. During the production of melanin, melanosomes are transferred to neighboring keratinocyte in order to form perinuclear melanin caps. The objective of this review is to analyze the melanocytes transplantation in the last century to date, and explore the methods epidermal cells can increase pigmentation in hypo-pigmented areas in skin disorders. Moreover, the focus is on the story of the melanocyte back to 1950s. In addition, prior systemic therapy was associated with a significant increase, based on combined additional therapy, achieving desired results and improved outcomes. Despite the short study of a long way of melanocyte assessment and following up patient treatment, results of the all reports confirmed the efficacy of the method used in the treatment of stable vitiligo patients, who did not respond to the common algorithms of non-invasive treatments.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation for Male Partner of Couples with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Post hoc analysis in Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Increased sperm DNA damage is known as one of the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) which can be due to increased levels of oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on sperm parameters and sperm functions in couples with a history of RPL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this post hoc analysis in clinical trial study, a total of 37 couples with RPL (n=12 and n=25 for placebo and ALA groups, respectively) were considered. Men were treated with ALA (600 mg/day) or placebo for 80 days. Semen samples were acquired from the participants before initiation and after completion of the medication course and assessed regarding conventional sperm parameters, chromatin damage/integrity, intracellular oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and seminal antioxidant characteristics. Individuals were further followed up for twelve months for pregnancy occurrence and outcomes. Finally, after excluding patients with no history of RPL, the data was analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the baseline measures of the aforementioned parameters except for seminal volume. After the intervention, the mean sperm DNA damage, protamine deficiency, and persisted histones were significantly lower in the ALA group than in placebo receivers (P<0.05). A decrease in the mean of seminal total antioxidant capacity (P=0.03), malondialdehyde (P=0.02), and sperm DNA damage (P=0.004) as well as an increase in sperm total motility (P=0.04) after treatment with ALA was noticed. In addition, the mean of protamine deficiency and persisted histones were declined post-ALA therapy (P=0.003 and 0.002, respectively). The percentage of spontaneous pregnancy in the ALA group (4 of 25 cases; 16%) was higher than in the placebo group (1 of 12, 8.3%). CONCLUSION: ALA-therapy attenuates sperm DNA damage and lipid peroxidation while enhancing sperm total motility and chromatin compaction in the male partner of couples with PRL (registration number: IRCT20190406043177N1).

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Ameliorates Sperm DNA Damage and Chromatin Integrity in Men with High DNA Damage: A Triple Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests the contributory role of oxidative stress (OS) to sperm DNA damage and eventually, male infertility. Antioxidant supplementation has exhibited favorable results regarding seminal OS, sperm DNA damage, and chromatin integrity. We aimed to evaluate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on semen analysis, sperm DNA damage, chromatin integrity, and seminal/intracellular OS in infertile men with high sperm DNA damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial study, we opted for a triple-blind controlled clinical trial design. Considering the study's inclusion criteria for the level of sperm DNA fragmentation (higher than the threshold of 30 and 15%), 70% of participants were selected for this clinical research study. Subjects were divided into case and control groups receiving oral ALA (600 mg/day) and placebo for eighty days, respectively. Sperm parameters and functional tests were examined and compared before and after treatment. The final sample size was 34 and 29 for ALA and placebo receivers, respectively. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed about anthropometrics and baseline measures of semen analysis, DNA damage, OS, and chromatin integrity between the two groups. Conventional semen parameters were enhanced insignificantly in both groups (P>0.05). DNA damage decreased significantly in the ALA group, as per sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA, P<0.001). Moreover, chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining results indicated a decrease in nuclear protamine deficiency post-ALA therapy (P=0.004). Lipid peroxidation decreased significantly after treatment with ALA (P=0.003). Further, seminal antioxidant capacity/activity did not differ significantly in either of the groups (registration number: IRCT20190406043177N1). CONCLUSION: An 80-day course of oral ALA supplementation (600 mg/day) alleviates sperm OS, DNA damage, and chromatin integrity in men with high sperm DNA damage.