AUTHOR=Xie Yuhua , Cui Jun , Lu Yanhua , Du Yingxue , Chang Jianmin 

TITLE=The fibroblast-driven melanoma/Treg vitiligo mouse model is effectively suppressed by IFNγ blocking antibody

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1677626

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1677626

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=The use of immunosuppressive drugs for vitiligo treatment carries a potential risk of increased infection, whereas IFNγ bispecific antibodies represent an alternative therapeutic strategy. Researchers employing the melanoma/Treg vitiligo mouse model identified a critical role of dermal fibroblasts during the progressive phase of vitiligo. These fibroblasts respond to IFNγ and recruit CD8 + T cells, a mechanism that also contributes to the bilateral symmetrical depigmentation commonly observed in vitiligo patients. To evaluate the suitability of this model as a platform for developing fibroblast-targeted IFNγ bispecific antibodies, mice were administered regular injections of IFNγ monoclonal antibodies. The IFNγ monoclonal antibody treatment significantly suppressed vitiligo progression in the melanoma/Treg model. Owing to its advantages—including straightforward induction, multi-antigen specificity, and the demonstrated efficacy of IFNγ blocking antibodies, the melanoma/Treg vitiligo mouse model is a robust platform for advancing the development of fibroblast-targeted IFNγ bispecific antibodies.