The present invention relates to the identification of the glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3B or GSK-3P) as a therapeutic target of pigmentation disorder and as biomarker of pigmentation status. The invention in particular relates to products and methods for treating a hypopigmentation disorder. The invention also relates to products and methods for detecting, diagnosing, staging or monitoring the course of hypopigmentation disorder and is particularly suited for human subjects.

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for modifying images of skin so as to reduce or enhance the appearance of component pigments, such as melanin and hemoglobin. A diffuse reflectance image of skin, such as a cross-polarized contact dermoscopy image, which conveys information regarding subsurface features of the skin, is processed so as to extract pigment distribution information, which is then used to correct the diffuse reflectance image, such as by reducing the appearance of melanin to allow better visualization of hemoglobin-related structures, such as vasculature. Alternatively, the diffuse reflectance image can be corrected so as to reduce the appearance of hemoglobin to allow better visualization of melanin-related structures.

The present invention relates to the diagnosis and treatment of solar lentigo (SL). The inventors established an in vitro model of primary fibroblasts isolated from SL (FL) and perilesional (FS) biopsies, which were collected from a cohort of 10 volunteers. Then, the inventors defined morphological and functional characteristics of both dermal cells. The inventors demonstrated by immunofluorescence studies differential morphological features with FL displaying elongated shape, a thin epidermis, disorganized basement membrane, intense melanin deposition and elongated rete ridges collapsing into the dermis and FS presented flattened morphology. Moreover, both fibroblasts demonstrated distinct functional characteristics with FL exhibiting a lower proliferation rate and migration capacity, senescent-like phenotype as well as a higher ability to secrete KGF, HGF, SCF, IL-13 and TGF1. Thus, the present invention relates to a method of identifying a subject having or at risk of having or developing solar lentigo, comprising measuring the expression level of IL-13, TGF1, HGF, KGF and SCF. The present invention also relates to an IL-13 inhibitor compound for use in the treatment of solar lentigo.

Systems for characterizing skin type including an illumination source configured to generate and direct light of one or more wavelengths onto a skin area; an optical sensor configured to receive the light reflected from the skin area illuminated by the illumination source and generate a corresponding electronic signal; a memory containing computer-readable instructions for: processing the electronic signal to identify one or more properties of the reflected light received by the optical sensor for use in characterizing one or more skin types within the skin area, and automatically characterizing the one or more skin types within the skin area based at least in part on the one or more identified properties of the reflected light; and a processor configured to read the computer-readable instructions from the memory and automatically characterize the one or more skin types within the skin area. Corresponding methods are disclosed.

The present invention relates to the identification of proteins of the WNT signaling pathway as therapeutic targets of pigmentation disorder and as biomarkers of pigmentation status. The invention in particular relates to products and methods for treating a hypopigmentation disorder. The invention also relates to products and methods for detecting, diagnosing, staging or monitoring the course of hypopigmentation disorder and is particularly suited for human subjects.

The present technology provides methods of preventing or treating vitiligo. The methods provide administering aromatic-cationic peptides in effective amounts to treat or ameliorate melanocyte degeneration such as that found in a subject suffering from, or predisposed to vitiligo. In some embodiments, the methods comprise administering to a subject suffering from, or at risk for vitiligo, an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide to subjects in need thereof. The present technology relates to the treatment, amelioration or prevention of vitiligo in mammals or mammalian cells, through administration of therapeutically effective amounts of aromatic-cationic peptides, such as D-Arg-2,6-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH2.

The disclosure provides methods of preventing, ameliorating or treating disruption of mitochondrial function and symptoms thereof. The methods provide administering aromatic-cationic peptides in effective amounts to prevent, treat or ameliorate the disruption of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in a cell such as that found in a subject suffering from, or predisposed to a mitochondrial disease or disorder. In some embodiments, the methods comprise administering to a subject suffering from, or at risk for a mitochondrial disease or disorder, an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide to subjects in need thereof.

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for modifying images of skin so as to reduce or enhance the appearance of component pigments, such as melanin and hemoglobin. A diffuse reflectance image of skin, such as a cross-polarized contact dermoscopy image, which conveys information regarding subsurface features of the skin, is processed so as to extract pigment distribution information, which is then used to correct the diffuse reflectance image, such as by reducing the appearance of melanin to allow better visualization of hemoglobin-related structures, such as vasculature. Alternatively, the diffuse reflectance image can be corrected so as to reduce the appearance of hemoglobin to allow better visualization of melanin-related structures.

Biomarkers are provided that are associated with or predictive of a subject's responsiveness to a JAK inhibitor. The biomarkers, compositions, and methods described herein are useful in selecting appropriate treatment modalities for a subject having, suspected of having, or at risk of developing vitiligo.