Biochemical, cytological, and immunological mechanisms of rhododendrol-induced leukoderma.
J Dermatol Sci
; 77(3): 146-9, 2015 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25726326
ABSTRACT
Recently, an unexpected outbreak of patients with leukoderma occurred in Japan with the use of brightening/lightening cosmetics containing rhododendrol (RD). Patients developed leukoderma mostly on the skin sites repeatedly applied with RD, but some patients also had vitiligo-like lesions on the non-applied sites. RD is a tyrosinase-competitive inhibiting substance, thereby serving as an inhibitor of melanin synthesis. Upon inhibition of tyrosinase, RD is converted to new products such as tyrosinase-catalyzed hydroxyl-metabolite, which damage melanocytes. The melanocyte cell lysates seem to induce T-cell response. The frequencies of CD8+ T cells in both lesional skin and peripheral blood are significantly higher in the RD leukoderma as well as non-segmental vitiligo patients than in normal controls. In HLA-A*0201 positive cases, circulating Melan-A-specific cytotoxic T cells can be detected at a high frequency. It is thus suggested that RD-induced leukoderma is induced by not only cytolysis of melanocytes but also subsequent immune reactions toward melanocytes.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Monophenol Monooxygenase
/
Hypopigmentation
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
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Butanols
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Dermatol Sci
Journal subject:
DERMATOLOGIA
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article