State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Mar 18;25(6):3411. doi: 10.3390/ijms25063411.
Vitiligo is a complex skin disorder that involves oxidative stress and inflammatory responses and currently lacks a definitive cure. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a noninvasive method for targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve and has gained widespread attention for potential intervention in the autonomic nervous system. Although previous research has suggested that vagus nerve stimulation can potentially inhibit inflammatory responses, its specific role and mechanisms in vitiligo treatment remain unknown. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of taVNS in a mouse model of vitiligo induced by monobenzone. Initially, a quantitative assessment of the treatment effects on vitiligo mice was conducted using a scoring system, revealing that taVNS significantly alleviated symptoms, particularly by reducing the depigmented areas. Subsequent immunohistochemical analysis revealed the impact of taVNS treatment on melanocyte granules, mitigating pigment loss in the skin of monobenzone-induced vitiligo mice. Further analysis indicated that taVNS exerted its therapeutic effects through multiple mechanisms, including the regulation of oxidative stress, enhancement of antioxidant capacity, promotion of tyrosine synthesis, and suppression of inflammatory responses. The conclusions of this study not only emphasize the potential value of taVNS in vitiligo therapy, but also lay a foundation for future research into the mechanisms and clinical applications of taVNS.
白癜风是一种复杂的皮肤疾病，涉及氧化应激和炎症反应，目前尚无明确的治愈方法。经皮耳迷走神经刺激（taVNS）是一种针对迷走神经耳支的非侵入性方法，因其可能干预自主神经系统而受到广泛关注。尽管先前的研究表明迷走神经刺激可能抑制炎症反应，但它在白癜风治疗中的具体作用和机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨 taVNS 对单苯氧乙醇诱导的白癜风小鼠模型的治疗效果。首先，采用评分系统对白癜风小鼠的治疗效果进行了定量评估，结果表明 taVNS 显著缓解了症状，特别是减少了脱色区域。随后的免疫组织化学分析显示 taVNS 治疗对黑素细胞颗粒的影响，减轻了单苯氧乙醇诱导的白癜风小鼠皮肤中的色素丢失。进一步的分析表明，taVNS 通过多种机制发挥治疗作用，包括调节氧化应激、增强抗氧化能力、促进酪氨酸合成和抑制炎症反应。本研究的结论不仅强调了 taVNS 在白癜风治疗中的潜在价值，也为 taVNS 的机制和临床应用研究奠定了基础。
