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EBSELEN IS A NEW SKIN DEPIGMENTING AGENT THAT INHIBITS MELANIN BIOSYNTHESIS AND MELANOSOMAL TRANSFER.

Kasraee1, B., Nikolic1, D.S., Salomon1, D., Carraux1, P., Fontao1, L., Piguet1, V., Omrani2, G.R., Sorg1,3, O., and Saurat1,3, J-H. 1Department of Dermatology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland; 2Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 3Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Geneva, Switzerland.
Abstract

We assessed the ability of ebselen, a glutathione peroxidase mimic, to reduce pigmentation in various models. In murine B16 melanocytes, 25 µm ebselen inhibited melanogenesis and induced a depolymerisation of actin filaments. In co-cultures of B16 melanocytes with BDVII keratinocytes, a pretreatment of melanocytes with ebselen resulted in a strong inhibition of melanosome transfer to keratinocytes, as shown under optical and electron microscopy. In reconstructed epidermis, topical 0.5% ebselen led to a twofold decrease of melanin without affecting the density of active melanocytes. A similar result was obtained with topical 0.5% ebselen in black guinea pig ears. Ebselen induced a decrease of epidermal melanin parallel to a localisation of melanin and melanosomes in the basal layer. Ebselen appears as a new depigmenting compound that inhibits melanin synthesis and melanosome transfer to keratinocytes.

Keywords

DOPA-positive melanocytes, Electron microscopy, Fontana-Masson staining, Glutathione peroxidase mimic, Histological analyses, HMB-45 immunostaining, Hydrogen peroxide, MEL-300-B, Melanin, Melanoderm™, Melanosome transfer, Pigmentation, Skin depigmenting

Materials Tested

1% ethanol, 2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one

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