title: Repigmentation by outer-root-sheath-derived melanocytes: proof of concept in vitiligo and leucoderma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of depigmented skin is an unmet medical need.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Melanocytes or stem cells thereof residing in the outer root sheath (ORS) of hair follicles might be used to repigment skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  After de-epidermisation, autologous ORS cell solutions were applied to 5 patients with vitiligo and 1 with leucoderma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stable repigmentation in a variable percentage was documented in all the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applying ORS-derived melanocytes is a promising technology to improve autologous melanocyte transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Dermatologische Gemeinschaftspraxis, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vanscheidt
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hunziker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D012996:Solutions; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions