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Skin pigmentation

1024

Deoxyvasicinone with Anti-Melanogenic Activity from Marine-Derived Streptomyces sp. CNQ-617

The tricyclic quinazoline alkaloid deoxyvasicinone (DOV, 1) was isolated from a marinederived Streptomyces sp. CNQ-617, and its anti melanogenic effects were investigated. Deoxyvasicinone was shown to decrease the melanin content of B16F10 and MNT-1 cells that have been stimulated by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). In addition, microscopic images of the cells showed that deoxyvasicinone attenuated melanocyte […]
1021

16-Kauren-2-beta-18,19-triol inhibits melanosome transport in melanocytes by down-regulation of melanophilin expression

Rab27a, Mlph, and MyoVa form a tripartite complex and relate to melanosome distribution. Melanophilin (Mlph) acts as a linker protein between Rab27a and MyoVa. The biological activity and function of 16-kauren on the expression of Mlph has not yet been studied.
951

Cellular Lysosomes’ Activity for Melanin Reduction on Artifcial Skin Tissue

All eukaryotes have lysosomes which contain hydrolytic enzymes such as protease to degrade waste materials and cellular fragments. As a cellular organelle, lysosomes function as the digestive system of the cell, serving both to degrade material taken up from outside the cell and to digest obsolete components of the cell itself. Conversely, melanin has photochemical […]
939

UP256 Inhibits Hyperpigmentation by Tyrosinase Expression/Dendrite Formation via Rho-Dependent Signaling and by Primary Cilium Formation in Melanocytes

Skin hyperpigmentation is generally characterized by increased synthesis and deposition of melanin in the skin. UP256, containing bakuchiol, is a well-known medication for acne vulgaris. Acne sometimes leaves dark spots on the skin, and we hypothesized that UP256 may be effective against hyperpigmentation-associated diseases. UP256 was treated for anti-melanogenesis and melanocyte dendrite formation in cultured […]
937

MicroRNA-141-3p and microRNA-200a-3p regulate α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated melanogenesis by directly targeting microphthalmia-associated transcription factor

In recent years, it has been reported that non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs, act as melanogenesis-regulating molecules in melanocytes. We found that the expression levels of miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p were decreased significantly by α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) stimulation in mouse melanocyte B16-4A5 cells, as demonstrated by a miRNA array. Overexpression of […]
894

Anti-Aging Potentials of Methylene Blue for Human Skin Longevity

Oxidative stress is the major cause of skin aging that includes wrinkles, pigmentation, and weakened wound healing ability. Application of antioxidants in skin care is well accepted as an effective approach to delay the skin aging process. Methylene blue (MB), a traditional mitochondrial-targeting antioxidant, showed a potent ROS scavenging efficacy in cultured human skin fibroblasts […]
877

Antimelanogenic Efficacy of Melasolv (3,4,5-Trimethoxycinnamate Thymol Ester) in Melanocytes and Three-Dimensional Human Skin Equivalent

Background/Aims: Excessive melanogenesis often causes unaesthetic hyperpigmentation. In a previous report, our group introduced a newly synthesized depigmentary agent, Melasolv TM (3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate thymol ester). In this study, we demonstrated the significant whitening efficacy of Melasolv using various melanocytes and human skin equi valents as in vitro experimental systems. Methods: The depigmentary effect of Melasolv was […]
869

Coumestrol Down-Regulates Melanin Production in Melan-a Murine Melanocytes through Degradation of Tyrosinase

Pigmentation reflects skin darkening caused by melanin production, but excessive melanin synthesis may cause problems, such as melasma, solar lentigo, dark spots, and freckles. Considerable effort has been devoted to alleviating these undesired symptoms through the development of safe and effective depigmenting agents. Coumestrol, a plant-derived natural isoflavone with an estrogen-like structure and actions, is […]
851

Measurement of Skin Pigmentation Using a Chromameter in a 3-Dimensional Epidermal Model Containing Functional Melanocytes

Cosmetic or skin care pharmaceutical formulations augment skin pigmentation either for the intended purpose of skin lightening or as an off-target effect.   A convenient way to screen such effects utilizes the MelanoDerm tissue model, a highly differentiated, three-dimensional tissue culture model of human epidermis containing normal human melanocytes and keratinocytes.  Use of this model can […]
850

Standardization of In vitro Macrophotography for Assessment of Cutaneous Responses

The increased popularity of commercially available 3-dimensional human skin equivalents in recent years has allowed for assessment of melanogenesis modulated by compounds topically applied to the skin or directly incorporated from the medium. These skin equivalents provide a suitable model for elucidating the mechanisms of action of various factors that modulate skin pigmentation or other […]
809

Application of Mattek In Vitro Reconstructed Human Skin Models for Safety, Efficacy Screening, and Basic Preclinical Research

During the past three decades, great progress has been achieved in the development of in vitro reconstructed human epidermal (RhE) tissue models. This technology is now available via various manufacturers of commercially available tissue models, and has provided opportunities for researchers worldwide to reduce or even completely avoid in vivo experimentation for screening and prediction of cutaneous […]
177

MELANODERM™: AN EPIDERMAL TISSUE MODEL CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL MELANOCYTES.

Organotypic skin models provide a useful, non-animal method of assessing the irritancy and efficacy properties of various cosmetic products. To address the modulation of skin pigmentation, Mattek Corporation has developed MelanoDerm™, a highly differentiated, three-dimensional tissue culture model of human epidermis that contains normal human melanocytes (NHM) and keratinocytes. NHM within MelanoDerm™ exhibit a dendritic […]
302

RECONSTITUTED 3-DIMENSIONAL HUMAN SKIN OF VARIOUS ETHNIC ORIGINS AS AN IN VITRO MODEL FOR STUDIES OF PIGMENTATION.

Reconstituted 3-dimensional human skin equivalents containing melanocytes and keratinocytes on an artifcial dermal substitute are gaining popularity for studies of skin metabolism because they exhibit morphological and growth characteristics similar to human epidermis. In this study, we show that such a pigmented epidermis model can be used to assess the regulation of pigmentation by known […]
497

FORSKOLIN PROTECTS KERATINOCYTES FROM UVB-INDUCED APOPTOSIS AND INCREASES DNA REPAIR INDEPENDENT OF ITS EFFECTS ON MELANOGENESIS.

This study by researchers in the Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute (National Institutes of Health) demonstrated that Mattek’s melanocyte/keratinocyte-containing MelanoDerm in vitro human skin tissue equivalent can be used to investigate the ability of a topically applied compound to prevent UVB-induced DNA damage in keratinocytes independent of melanin production in melanocytes. Melanin pigments […]
473

HUMAN SKIN RESPONSES TO UV RADIATION: PIGMENT IN THE UPPER EPIDERMIS PROTECTS AGAINST DNA DAMAGE IN THE LOWER EPIDERMIS AND FACILITATES APOPTOSIS.

This study by researchers at the National Cancer Institute and the US Food and Drug Administration demonstrated how Mattek’s MelanoDerm reconstructed 3-D in vitro human skin tissues containing both keratinocytes and melanocytes could be used to investigate how increased melanin concentrations in human skin can act as a UV radiation “filter”, a phenomenon first seen […]
471

SOX9 IS A KEY PLAYER IN ULTRAVIOLET B-INDUCED MELANOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION AND PIGMENTATION.

This study by researchers from the National Cancer Institute (USA) and the Universite de Nice Sophia–Antipolis (France) demonstrated the ability to use MelanoDerm, one of Mattek’s re-constructed skin models, as a surrogate to assess the effect of UVB radiation on SOX9 expression in human skin in vivo. SOX (SRY type HMG box) proteins are transcription […]
163

MELANODERM™, AN EPIDERMAL MODEL CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL MELANOCYTES.

Organotypic skin models provide a useful, non-animal means to assess the irritancy and efficacy properties of various cosmetic products. To address the modulation of skin pigmentation, Mattek Corporation has developed MelanoDerm, a highly differentiated, three-dimensional tissue culture model of human epidermis which contains normal human melanocytes (NHM). NHM within MelanoDerm exhibit dendritic morphology, are localized […]
500

IDENTIFICATION OF QUINOLINES THAT INHIBIT MELANOGENESIS BY ALTERING TYROSINASE FAMILY TRAFFICKING.

This study by scientists at the New York University School of Medicine and PTC Therapeutics demonstrated how Mattek’s MelanoDerm in vitro human skin tissue equivalent can be used to measure the depigmenting effects of human skin lightening agents. A series of quinolines, including chloroquine and quinine, were identified as potent pigmentation inhibitors through screening a […]
744

AUTOPHAGY HAS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN DETERMINING SKIN COLOR BY REGULATING MELANOSOME DEGRADATION IN KERATINOCYTES.

Melanin in the epidermis determines the wide variation in skin color associated with ethnic skin diversity. Ethnic differences exist regarding melanosome loss in keratinocytes, but the mechanisms underlying these differences, and their contribution to the regulation of skin color, remain unclear. Here, we explored the involvement of autophagy in determining skin color by regulating melanosome […]
490

QUERCETIN-INDUCED MELANOGENESIS IN A RECONSTITUTED THREE-DIMENSIONAL HUMAN EPIDERMAL MODEL.

This study by researchers at Nippon Medical School and Tokai University School of Medicine in Japan demonstrated that Mattek’s MelanoDerm in vitro human skin tissue equivalent can be used to demonstrate that a compound (quercetin) has an effect on the maturation of melanosomes and that it has the potential to induce melanogenesis in human epidermis. […]
470

DICKKOPF 1 (DKK1) REGULATES SKIN PIGMENTATION AND THICKNESS BY AFFECTING WNT/â-CATENIN SIGNALING IN KERATINOCYTES.

This study by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (USA), Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine (Japan) and Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences (Japan) demonstrated the ability to reproduce the expression patterns of key proteins observed in human palmoplantar skin by treating MelanoDerm, Mattek’s reconstructed human skin model containing both keratinocytes and […]
226

COMPARISON OF FUNCTIONAL PIGMENTATION ASSAYS.

Many different biological pathways have been implicated in the control of pigmentation including various signal transduction pathways and the cell cycle. We have analyzed key proteins in these pathways in normal human epidermal melanocytes including PKCbI, PKCbII, ERKI,2, MEK, pRb, E2F-1, E2F-2, p16, and p21. The functional relevance of these pathways to melanogenesis was assessed […]
206

USE OF MELANODERM™, AN EPIDERMAL MODEL CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL MELANOCYTES TO STUDY MODULATORS OF SKIN PIGMENTATION.

There is considerable interest in developing both cosmetic and pharma-ceutical formulations which cause darkening or lightening of the skin. These products are utilized to cosmetically alter one’s natural skin color, to provide natural protection from UV irradiation (by increasing melanin content of the skin), or to combat skin pigmentation disorders such as melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, […]
522

A LOTION CONTAINING UNDECYLENOYL PHENYLALANINE AND ERGOTHIONEINE REDUCES MELANIN LEVELS WITHOUT AFFECTING TISSUE VIABILITY IN ARTIFICIAL SKIN CONSTRUCTS.

This study by scientists at AGI Dermatics demonstrated that Mattek’s MelanoDerm in vitro human skin tissue equivalent can be used to evaluate the depigmentation (lightening) effects of skin lotion additives caused by a reduction in melanin production without tissue/cell toxicity. AGI Dermatics scientists investigated the depigmentation properties of a lotion that contains two amino acid […]
200

INHIBITION OF MELANOSOME TRANSFER RESULTS IN SKIN LIGHTENING.

The chemical basis of melanogenesis is well documented, but the mechanism of melanosome transfer and the regulation of pigmentation by keratinocyte-melanocyte interactions are not well understood. Therefore we examined the effects of serine protease inhibitors on skin pigmentation and found that the protease-activated receptor 2, expressed on keratinocytes, may regulate pigmentation via keratinocyte-melanocyte interactions. Here […]
474

INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF A NOVEL ASCORBIC DERIVATIVE, DISODIUM ISOSTEARYL 2-O-L-ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE ON MELANOGENESIS.

This study by researchers at Toyo Beauty Co., Ltd., Jichi Medical University, and Kinki University (Japan) demonstrated how Mattek’s MelanoDerm 3-D human skin tissue equivalent containing both keratinocytes and melanocytes can be used as an in vitro test of the safety and effectiveness of a novel skin whitening agent. Researchers from Toyo Beauty Co., Ltd., […]
329

A NATURAL NEW ACTIVE WHITENING MOLECULE.

Tyrosinase has long been commonly considered as the sole enzyme involved in melanogenesis and has served as target to develop whitening agents. But, over the past decade, it has become well accepted that melanins pathways involve many other enzymes such as Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) and/or peroxidase-H2O2 as well as many integrative phenomena such as […]
264

RESULTS USING MELANODERM™, AN EPIDERMAL MODEL CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL MELANOCYTES, DEMONSTRATE EFFICACY OF NOVEL SKIN LIGHTENING FORMULATIONS.

To minimize the cost of human clinical studies and shorten the time to market, we have used the MelanoDerm skin model (Mattek Corporation) to screen novel skin lightening formulations that we have recently developed. The formulations were applied topically to MelanoDerm tissues 5 times over an 8-day period. Tissue samples were fixed for histological analysis […]
227

IMPROVEMENTS TO MELANODERM™, AN EPIDERMAL MODEL CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL MELANOCYTES FOR SKIN LIGHTENING STUDIES.

Clinical skin lightening studies often run in excess of 3 months duration and are very costly. Therefore, there is considerable interest in developing methodology using cultured skin tissues to perform such studies in vitro. Towards this end, we have produced MelanoDerm, a highly differentiated, three-dimensional tissue culture model of human epidermis that contains normal human […]
220

AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO DEPIGMENTATION BY SOYBEAN EXTRACT VIA INHIBITION OF THE PAR-2 PATHWAY.

The protease-activated receptor 2, expressed on keratinocytes but not on melanocytes, has been ascribed functional importance in the regulation of pigmentation by phagocytosis of melanosomes. Inhibition of protease-activated receptor 2 activation by synthetic serine protease inhibitors requires keratinocyte-melanocyte contact and results in depigmentation of the dark skinned Yucatan swine, suggesting a new class of depigmenting […]
218

A CELL PIGMENTATION ASSAY SUITABLE FOR SCREENING OF COSMETIC RAW MATERIALS.

There is substantial interest in evaluating cosmetic raw materials for effects on melanin production. Since tyrosinase activity is considered rate limiting in melanogenesis, potential skin lightening materials are often screened by measuring their effects on this enzyme. However, melanogenesis involves a series of additional reactions, some of which may be amenable to modulation. In addition, […]
211

MELANODERM, AN EPIDERMAL TISSUE TO EVALUATE SKIN LIGHTENING AND DARKENING.

There is considerable interest in developing new cosmetic and skin care pharmaceutical formulations which modulate pigmentation of the skin. These products will be utilized to cosmetically alter one’s natural skin color (artificial tanning or skin lightening) or to combat skin pigmentation disorders such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In order to aid in the development […]
196

USE OF MELANODERM™, AN EPIDERMAL MODEL CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL MELANOCYTES, FOR SKIN LIGHTENING STUDIES.

There is considerable interest in developing both cosmetic and/or skin care pharmaceutical formulations which cause lightening of the skin. These products are utilized to cosmetically alter one’s natural skin color or to combat skin pigmentation disorders such as melasma, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and other hyperpigmentation lesions. In order to aid in the development and testing of […]
122

INITIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF AN EPIDERMAL MODEL CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL MELANOCYTES.

A model of the human epidermis, EpiDerm™, cultured from foreskin derived normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) has been shown to reproduce many of the histological and ultrastructural properties of native epidermis. In an effort to extend the utility and complexity of these cultures, normal human melanocytes (NHM) have recently been incorporated. Both melanocyte free and […]
188

THE PROTEASE-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR 2 REGULATES PIGMENTATION VIA KERATINOCYTE-MELANOCYTE INTERACTIONS.

Close association exists between melanocytes, the pigment melanin-producing cells in the body, and their neighboring keratinocytes. Keratinocytes are the pigment recipients and skin pigmentation is the result of this interaction. While the chemical basis of melanin production (melanogenesis) is well documented, the molecular mechanism of melanosome transfer needs to be elucidated. We are now providing […]
173

NEW RESULTS WITH MELANODERM™, AN EPIDERMAL MODEL CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL MELANOCYTES.

We have previously reported on the successful incorporation of normal human melanocytes (NHM) into a highly differentiated, three-dimensional tissue culture model of human epidermis (JID, 104(4), 616, 1995). Melanocytes exhibited dendritic morphology, were localized in the basal cell layer, and converted 1-dopa to melanin. Previously, spontaneous pigmentation of the melanocytes could not be observed using […]