Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) plays a pivotal role in regulating the development of many tissues and organs

however

as an inhibitor of Wnt signaling

the role of SFRP5 in vitiligo remains unknown. Hence

we speculated that SFRP5 might be associated with melanogenesis in melanocytes by regulating Wnt signaling in vitiligo. In this study

we found that SFRP5 was overexpressed in the skin lesions of patients with vitiligo. Compared with that in normal epidermal melanocytes (PIG1)

the expression of SFRP5 was increased in vitiligo melanocytes (PIG3V). To investigate the effect of SFRP5 on melanin synthesis

PIG1 cells were infected with recombinant SFRP5 adenovirus (AdSFRP5)

and PIG3V cells were infected with recombinant siSFRP5 adenovirus (AdsiSFRP5). The results showed that SFRP5 overexpression inhibited melanin synthesis in PIG1 cells through downregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and its target proteins via suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Accordingly

SFRP5 silencing increased melanin synthesis and activated the Wnt signaling pathway in PIG3V cells. Moreover

SFRP5 overexpression also downregulated the transcriptional activity of T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) in PIG1 cells. Furthermore

this inhibitory effect of SFRP5 on melanin synthesis was reversed by treatment with the β-catenin agonist

SKL2001. The inhibitory action of SFRP5 in pigmentation was further confirmed 

in vivo

 using a nude mouse model. Hence

our results indicate that SFRP5 can inhibit melanogenesis in melanocytes. Additionally

our findings showed that SFRP5 plays a vital role in the development of vitiligo

and thus may serve as a potential therapeutic target for vitiligo.