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The 22nd International Pigment Cell Conference, Singapore
Address for correspondence: Prof. Dr. Robert A. Schwartz, Dermatology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA. E-mail: raschwartz@gmail.com
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The Asian Society for Pigment Cell Research (ASPCR) and the Dermatology Society of Singapore (DSS) hosted the prestigious 22nd International Pigment Cell Conference (IPCC) at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. Themed “Bringing Colours to Life,” this congress illuminated translational advancements in pigment cell research and addressed the pigmentary challenges in Asian skin.
Key opinion leaders of pigment cell biology and pigmentary disorders lectured at this triennial meeting of the International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies [Figure 1]. They included Howard Chang (USA), Sandipan Dhar (India), Fabian V. Filipp (USA), Boon-Kee Goh (Singapore), Evangeline Handog (Philippines), John E. Harris (USA), Nina Jablonski (USA), Hee-Young Kang (Korea), Jean Krutmann (Germany), Prasad Kumarasinghe (Australia), Torello M. Lotti (Italy), Frank L. Meyskens, Jr. (USA), Chikako Nishigori (Japan), Emi Nishimura (Japan), Kyoung-Chan Park (Korea), Davinder Parsad (India), Thierry Passeron (France), Mauro Picardo (Italy), Rashmi Sarkar (India), Nilendu Sarma (India), Robert A. Schwartz (USA), Richard A. Spritz (USA), and Alain Taieb (France) [Figures 2–4].
- Somesh Gupta lecturing in session chaired by Nanja van Geel, Davinder Parsad, and C. F. Zhang (left to right)
- Prasad Kumarasinghe, Davinder Parsad, and Robert A. Schwartz await IPCC ceremonies (left to right)
- Nilendu Sarma and Robert A. Schwartz discuss academic collaborations (left to right)
- Evangeline Handog, Torell M. Lotti, and Robert A. Schwartz share insights (right to left)
There was an abundance of extraordinary and enlightening lectures. The presidential address by Mauro Picardo focused on the concept of vitiligo being a consequence of primary melanocyte oxidative-driven damage with mitochondria a possible source of free radical production. The Fitzpatrick Lecture was given by Fabian V. Filipp on the isozyme shift in cancer metabolism. The Seiji Memorial Lecture discussed genes with major influence on human pigmentation and proposed additive genotypes of common TYR polymorphisms as an important modifier of other pigmentation gene alleles in predictive models of human skin, hair, and eye color. Somesh Gupta proclaimed the hair follicle is an attractive source of melanocytes for transplantation in vitiligo. Nina Jablonski discussed natural selection and the evolution of skin color phenotypes, noting that the effects of rapid biological changes accompanied the dispersal of Homo sapiens from near the equator in Africa into Eurasia about 60,000 years ago. Jean Krutmann described exposure of human skin to traffic-related particulate matter, especially soot, as causing signs of cutaneous aging evident as wrinkles and pigment spot formation by activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in human skin, as do ultraviolet light and tobacco smoke. A pilot study by S. Mangal and Davinder Parsad found tranexamic acid microinjections to be beneficial in patients with melasma. Nilendu Sarma promulgated current concepts of periorbital hyperpigmentation. Richard A. Spritz reviewed the genetics of vitiligo, proclaiming that there are at least 32 different confirmed vitiligo susceptibility loci in European-derived Caucasians. There were also special panel discussions, including one on the nosologic controversy of lichen planus pigmentosus, which Professor Davinder Parsad, an ASPCR advisory committee member, enhanced as moderator.
Boon-Kee Goh, Organizing President of IPCC 2014; Su-Ni Wong, President of the Dermatological Society of Singapore; and Mauro Picardo, President of the International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies, all received accolades for their superb efforts [Figure 5].
- IPCC ceremonies celebrate this success
