Diffusion of [2-14C]diazepam across hairless mouse skin and human skin

The objectives of this study were to investigate the absorption of diazepam applied topically to the hairless mouse in vivo and to determine the diffusion of diazepam across isolated hairless mouse skin and human skin. [14C]Diazepam was readily absorbed after topical administration to the intact hairless mouse, a total of 75.8% of the 14C-label applied being recovered in urine and feces. Diazepam was found to diffuse across human and hairless mouse skin unchanged in experiments with twin-chambered diffusion cells. The variation in diffusion rate or the flux for both human and mouse tissues was greater among specimens than between duplicate or triplicate trials for a single specimen. Fluxes for mouse skin (stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis) were greater than for human skin (stratum corneum and epidermis): 0.35-0.61 microgram/cm2/h for mouse skin vs 0.24-0.42 microgram/cm2/h for human skin. The permeability coefficients for mouse skin ranged from 1.4-2.4 X 10(-2)cm/h compared with 0.8-1.4 X 10(-2)cm/h for human skin. Although human stratum corneum is almost twice the thickness of that of the hairless mouse, the diffusion coefficients for human skin were 3-12 times greater (0.76-3.31 X 10(-6) cm2/h for human skin vs 0.12-0.27 X 10(-6) cm2/h for hairless mouse) because of a shorter lag time for diffusion across human skin. These differences between the diffusion coefficients and diffusion rates (or permeability coefficients) suggest that the presence of the dermis may present some barrier properties. In vitro the dermis may require complete saturation before the diazepam can be detected in the receiving chamber. [14C]Diazepam was not detected in the receiving chamber of the Franz cell apparatus in experiments with human skin. This indicated that the rate of diffusion was less than 0.09 microgram/cm2/h. Since this diffusion technique more closely resembles topical administration to humans, these results appear to indicate that achieving therapeutic concentrations in humans may be difficult. In addition, the hairless mouse may not be a suitable model for predicting percutaneous absorption of diazepam in humans.     

Does stereochemistry influence transdermal permeation of flurbiprofen through the rat skin?

The possible enantioselectivity in the permeation of the chiral anti-inflammatory drug flurbiprofen across hairless rat skin was studied. The transdermal permeability of individual enantiomers from donor solution containing racemic flurbiprofen (0.1%) and pure enantiomers (0.05%) in isopropyl myristate solution was determined using side-by-side diffusion cells. The permeation profiles of enantiomers (R)- and (S)-flurbiprofen from donor solution containing racemic (RS)-flurbiprofen are comparable. When donor solution contained pure enantiomers, marked differences were observed between the permeation rates of (R)- and (S)-flurbiprofen. The steady-state flux and permeability coefficient were significantly higher for (R)-flurbiprofen in comparison with (S)-flurbiprofen (the flux ratio R/S = 2.04; p < 0.05).     

Skin penetration and sun protection factor of five UV filters: effect of the vehicle

To gain information about efficacy and safety of sunscreens, we compared the skin penetration of ultraviolet (UV) filters from two vehicles, i.e. an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion gel and petrolatum jelly both in vitro and in vivo, as well as the corresponding pharmacological effect, i.e. the sun protection factor (SPF) in vivo. The UV filters studied were benzophenone-3 (BPH), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHM), butyl methoxydibenzoyl methane, ethylhexyl salicylate and homosalate. The human skin penetration of these five chemicals from the two vehicles was determined both in vitro using Franz cells and in vivo using a standardized tape-stripping method. The SPF of the two sunscreens was determined in vivo following the COLIPA guidelines. In vitro none of the filters permeated through the skin after 6 h of product application and very little could be found in the skin. BPH and EHM were the only UV filters found in the dermis (both after 30 min and 6 h). An effect of the vehicle could be noticed only for BPH after 30 min in the dermis and 6 h in both dermis and epidermis. In vivo, no differences in the amount of individual UV filters (in % of the applied dose) in the 15 first strips of the stratum corneum (SC) were found following 30 min of application of the formulations; however, the amount of UV filters that were retained in the SC was significantly higher (around 3 times) with the O/W emulsion gel than with the petrolatum jelly. This difference between the two vehicles was also of consequence for the SPF in vivo measured 30 min after application of the products (SPF congruent with 18 with the O/W emulsion gel compared to SPF congruent with 10 with the petrolatum jelly). By choosing the right vehicle or optimizing it, not only sunscreen products can be significantly improved in terms of pharmacological efficacy but the potential toxicological risk associated with the skin penetration of UV filters may be significantly reduced.     

In vitro percutaneous penetration: evaluation of the utility of hairless mouse skin

The permeability barrier of hairless mouse skin has been determined in vitro after exposure of the epidermal surface to volumes of acetone typically used in human in vivo skin penetration studies. It has been shown that the transport of tritiated water (when applied for limited 5-h periods) across hairless mouse skin is not affected by acetone treatments of approximately 15 microliters/cm2. Submersion of the membranes between aqueous donor and receptor phases for periods greater than 24 h, however, leads to significant and catastrophic barrier impairment. The acetone dose in the experiments reported is greater than that employed in vivo when the solvent is used to deposit a penetrant on human skin. We suggest, therefore, that acetone-mediated facilitation of percutaneous absorption in humans is unlikely. A further conclusion of this work is that in vitro solvent-deposition penetration experiments using hairless mouse skin should provide reliable transport information for at least 48 h postadministration. Although hairless mouse skin is more permeable than its human counterpart, in vitro measurements using the murine barrier should, therefore, provide useful and relevant guidelines for risk assessment calculations and bioavailability determinations.     

Hairless mouse skin is limited as a model for assessing the effects of penetration enhancers in human skin

The permeability coefficient of 5-fluorouracil through human abdominal and hairless mouse skins was used as an indicator of the relative effects of 12-h pretreatment of the skins with either penetration-enhancer mixtures [including laurocapram (Azone), decylmethylsulfoxide, oleic acid, and propylene glycol] or saline (control). After treatment with saline, fluxes of 5-fluorouracil through the two skin types were similar, but the mouse skin showed exaggerated responses to all the penetration-enhancer formulations. There was no consistent relationship between enchancer effects on the two skin types, and we conclude that the hairless mouse model should not be used to predict the effects of penetration enhancers in human skin. After treatment with saline, hairless mouse skin sharply increased in permeability after approximately 50 h hydration, suggesting that the stratum corneum had started to disrupt, whereas the flux through human skin remained unchanged.     

Use of theoretical partition coefficients determined from solubility parameters to predict permeability coefficients for 5-fluorouracil

Values for experimental permeability coefficients of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in 7 single- and 4 two component vehicles were determined from flux measurements through hairless mouse skin in diffusion cells and from solubility data. Theoretical partition coefficients of 5-FU between vehicle and skin were determined from solubility parameters of drug, vehicle, and skin, and from this theoretical permeability coefficients were estimated. Comparison of theoretical with experimental values for the permeability coefficients showed a good correlation for vehicles with solubility parameters between 12-18 (cal/cm3)1/2. For vehicles or mixtures of vehicles with solubility parameters in the range of 8-12 (cal/cm3)1/2, increases in flux and permeability coefficients were seen compared with theoretical predictions, possibly due to the similarity in solubility parameters of the vehicles to that of skin (10 cal/cm3)1/2. There was an inverse relationship between 5-FU solubility in the vehicles and flux or permeability coefficient that corresponded approximately to the point where the solubility parameters of drug and vehicle were the same.     

Effect of skin pretreatment with vehicle alone or drug in vehicle on flux of a subsequently applied drug: results of hairless mouse skin and diffusion cell studies

Clinical and in vitro evidence suggest that pretreatment of skin with a drug or vehicle can influence topical drug delivery. In this study, hairless mouse skin in diffusion cells was treated for 48 h with topical applications of vehicle alone (oleic acid (OA), isopropyl myristate, octanol (OCT), dimethylformamide, propylene glycol (PG), ethylene glycol (EG), formamide), or mixtures of OA and PG, or with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) suspensions in each of these vehicles. Twenty-four hours after removing the initially applied agent, a standard suspension of theophylline in PG was applied to the skin surface and the flux of theophylline was determined over the next 48 h. Skin pretreatment with vehicle alone increased theophylline flux 1.6-(EG) to 122-fold (OCT) over control experiments in which the skins were not pretreated. Pretreatment with nonpolar vehicles with lower solubility parameters (OA, OCT, or mixed vehicles containing one of these) had the greatest effect on subsequent theophylline flux. Pretreatment with 5-FU in various vehicles caused a subsequent increased theophylline flux similar to the effect of vehicle alone, except for pretreatment with 5-FU in vehicles which did not have much effect themselves. In those instances, theophylline fluxes up to 16-fold over the effect of those vehicles alone were observed.     

Acyclovir skin depot characterization following in vivo iontophoretic delivery

Background/purpose: Current Herpes labialis infection treatment by oral, parenteral or topical routes is inefficient. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of iontophoresis for improved topical delivery of acyclovir (ACV) in vivo in hairless rat. Methods: Iontophoresis was performed for 10 min using a 5% ACV gel formulation. Tape stripping and skin extractions were performed at different time points following treatment for drug quantification in stratum corneum (SC) and underlying skin, respectively. Results: Fourfold more ACV was detected in the SC immediately following 10‐min iontophoresis as compared with passive delivery. Similarly, high ACV levels (29.27±3.52 μg/cm²) were achieved in the underlying skin following a single 10‐min iontophoretic treatment while no drug detected following passive delivery (P<0.05). At 24‐h post‐iontophoresis, ACV levels in the SC decreased with a corresponding increase in the underlying skin due to drug migration. After 24‐h post‐iontophoresis, drug levels gradually decreased in both skin compartments until no ACV was detected at 72‐h post‐iontophoresis. Conclusion: Iontophoretic delivery of ACV resulted in high drug levels in skin layers to form a drug depot, which persisted over 2–3 days.     

Pilot study of dermal and subcutaneous fat structures by MRI in individuals who differ in gender, BMI, and cellulite grading

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Puckered, dimply skin on the thighs, hips, and buttocks is known as cellulite. The cause of cellulite is not known, although there are a number of different hypotheses. In this study, we use magnetic resonance (MR) micro-imaging to study cellulite skin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported MR study of cellulite. METHODS: High-resolution in vivo MR images of the postlateral thigh skin of two male groups and four female groups were obtained. Subjects were grouped according to their body mass index (BMI) and cellulite grade. A qualitative assessment of how MRI can be used to differentiate skin tissue at different levels of cellulite grading was performed. RESULTS: We found that changes in skin architecture with cellulite can be visualized by in vivo MR micro-imaging. The skin fat layers beneath the dermis and down to the level of muscles are well visualized in the images. Also, the diffuse pattern of extrusion of underlying adipose tissue into dermis is clearly imaged, and was found to correlate with cellulite grading. We also show that other skin tissue parameters such as (a) the percentile of adipose vs. connective tissue in a given volume of hypodermis and (b) the percentile of hypodermic invaginations inside the dermis are correlated with cellulite grade. CONCLUSION: MR images can be interpreted to measure tissue parameters correlated with cellulite. Considering that we had only three subjects in each group, the achievements of this pilot study were highly satisfactory. We have shown that the in vivo micro-MR is a technique able to detect the effects of cellulite and gender. This study can be extended for further investigations of drugs and/or medical devices for cellulite treatment.     

UVB-induced epidermal hyperproliferation is modified by a single, topical treatment with a mitosis inhibitory epidermal pentapeptide

A single application of a water-miscible cream base containing the recently identified mitosis inhibitory epidermal pentapeptide pyroGlu-Glu-Asp-Ser-GlyOH (EPP) to hairless mouse skin is followed by a long-lasting period of reduced epidermal cell proliferation. To examine if a similar growth inhibition could be achieved in stimulated and rapidly proliferating epidermis, EPP was applied at two different concentrations, 0.005 or 0.02%, to hairless mouse skin immediately after exposure of the left flank to an erythemic dose of ultraviolet B light (UVB). This dose of UVB alone induces a sustained period of rapid epidermal cell proliferation, starting at about 18 h after the irradiation. Epidermal cell proliferation was followed from 18 to 54 h (0.005% cream) or from 18 to 30 h (0.02% cream) after the treatment by estimating the rate of G2-M cell flux (the mitotic rate) by means of Colcemid, and epidermal DNA synthesis by counting labeled cells after pulse-labeling with 3H-thymidine. The unirradiated side of the mice was used as reference. The results showed that topical treatment with a 0.02% EPP cream partially inhibited UVB-induced epidermal hyperproliferation, while the 0.005% EPP cream inhibited as well as stimulated the UVB-induced hyperproliferation. Thus, EPP is effective even in rapidly proliferating epidermal cell populations, but the outcome is obviously dose-dependent in this test system.     

Green tea polyphenols prevent ultraviolet light-induced oxidative damage and matrix metalloproteinases expression in mouse skin

Chronic exposure of solar ultraviolet (UV) light to human skin results in photoaging. UV-induced oxidative damage and induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) have been implicated in this process. Because polyphenols from green tea (GTP) prevent other cutaneous adverse effects of UV radiation we hypothesized that UV irradiation-induced oxidative damage and induction of MMP might be prevented in vivo in mouse skin by oral administration of GTP. GTP was administered in drinking water (0.2%, wt/vol) to SKH-1 hairless mice, which were then exposed to multiple doses of UVB (90 mJ per cm2, for 2 mo on alternate days) following in vivo photoaging animal protocol. Treatment of GTP resulted in inhibition of UVB-induced protein oxidation in vivo in mouse skin, a hallmark of photoaging, when analyzed biochemically, by immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. GTP treatment also inhibited UVB-induced protein oxidation in vitro in human skin fibroblast HS68 cells, which supports in vivo observations. Moreover, oral administration of GTP also resulted in inhibition of UVB-induced expression of matrix degrading MMP, such as MMP-2 (67%), MMP-3 (63%), MMP-7 (62%), and MMP-9 (60%) in hairless mouse skin. These data suggest that GTP as a dietary supplement could be useful to attenuate solar UVB light-induced premature skin aging.     

Molecular events associated with apoptosis and proliferation induced by ultraviolet-B radiation in the skin of hairless mice

BACKGROUND: It is recognized that UV radiation produced apoptotic cells (sun burn cells) in the epidermis of mice. However, the relationship between apoptosis and cell proliferation after UV exposure in the skin of hairless mice are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on molecular events associated with apoptosis and proliferation in SKH1-hr mouse skin. METHODS: Mice were irradiated with daily UVB exposure of 0.1 or 0.25 J/cm(2) for 14 days. The skin tissues were analyzed at 2 and 24 h after the end irradiation for the presence of apoptotic cells and Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells. We measured the expression of p53, p21, bcl-2, bax and E2F-1. RESULTS: The results indicated that UVB irradiation caused to increase apoptotic cells in the epidermis of mice. The expression of p53 and p21 was increased at 2 and 24 h after irradiation compared with the control. UV radiation induced high levels of bax at 2 and 24 h after irradiation with a concomitant decrease in bcl-2 expression. The expression of E2F-1 in the skin was also increased at 2 and 24 h after irradiation. Coinciding with these changes, BrdU positive cells increased at 2 and 24 h after UVB exposure at the epidermis of hairless mice, which observed the apoptotic expression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that UVB irradiation of mouse skin induces apoptosis and is mediated by the p53/p21/E2F-1/bax pathway and that the dead cells are replaced by hyperproliferative cells, leading to epidermal hyperplasia.     

Diseased skin models in the hairless guinea pig: in vivo percutaneous absorption

We observed hydrocortisone and benzoic acid absorption in relation to experimentally induced in vivo damaged skin models in the hairless guinea pig. Radioactivity of the drugs in urine was calculated as absorbed dose. Both drugs have different patterns of excretion in urine. Damaging the skin abolished some barrier function and increased the absorption of both model drugs. With cellophane-tape-stripped skin, the absorption was increased 3 times and 2 times for each drug, respectively. Irritation with 2% sodium lauryl sulfate increased absorption by a ratio of 2-4 times. Defatting with chloroform/methanol (2:1) mixture increased absorption to the greatest extent (5- and 2.7-fold). The possible mechanism of a delipidization effect was considered in view of a visible skin lesion and inflammatory reaction. Precautions are proposed for those with damaged/diseased skin in dealing with topical medications or handling solvents.     

In vivo mapping of the vascular changes in skin burns of anaesthetised mice by fibre optic confocal imaging (FOCI)

Burns (3 mm in diameter, 50 degrees C, 20 s duration) were induced on the skin of anaesthetised hairless mice. Anaesthesia was maintained throughout all experiments. Subsurface changes in the microvasculature at the burn site were imaged confocally following i. v. injection of fluorescently labelled (FITC) dextran. Blood cells moving through dermal blood vessels were seen and recorded on video tape. Multiple adjacent 2-D confocal images of the burn site and surrounding areas were assembled and enabled microscopic vascular imaging of the whole burn area (including zones of coagulation, stasis and hyperaemia) and the surrounding normal vessels. This mapping of the burn area by fibre optic confocal imaging (FOCI) in vivo demonstrated good congruence with vascular casts (Microfil MV-120, Flow tech, USA) made at 4 h post burn. This study demonstrates the usefulness of FOCI for in vivo vascular imaging in burns.     

Delivery of a classical antihypertensive agent through the skin by chemical enhancers and iontophoresis

Background/purpose: Oral therapy with antihypertensive agents is generally associated with severe GI side effects and low patient compliance. Therefore, development of a method of drug delivery that maintains the proper drug level for a prolonged period without adverse effects is required. Thus, transdermal delivery has all the necessities that are required for delivery of classical antihypertensive agents. However, the different approaches to enhance the transport of atenolol through intact skin have not resulted in a remarkable improvement.
Methods: The effect of the drug concentration and a binary system (water–ethanol) on the atenolol flux was investigated. Further, the effects of chemical enhancers (menthol, oleic acid, polyethylene glycol 400, sodium lauryl sulphate, di methyl formamide and N -methyl-2-pyrrolidone) at different concentrations and their combined effects with iontophoresis were examined.
Results: Among the binary systems, the highest flux was obtained when 75% v/v ethanol in water was used. Atenolol flux enhanced significantly ( P <0.001) at the 5% w/v concentration among all the enhancers studied. It was also observed that the combination of iontophoresis with oleic acid (5% w/v) showed the maximum benefit with a steady-state flux of 2.66 μmol/cm²/h.
Conclusion: The combination of iontophoresis with permeation enhancers was found to be promising in delivering atenolol across the skin, and the highest permeation was attained when oleic acid was combined with iontophoresis. The in vitro flux value obtained (when oleic acid combined with iontophoresis) was 0.71 mg/cm²/h, which points to the fact that a therapeutically effective concentration can be attained with 1.2 cm² of skin contact area.     

Photoprotective effect of Pothomorphe umbellata root extract against ultraviolet radiation induced chronic skin damage in the hairless mouse

In this study we evaluated the activity of Pothomorphe umbellata root extract on hairless mice chronically exposed to UVB radiation (76.5 mJ/cm(2), 4 days per week for 22 weeks). Mouse dorsal surfaces were treated topically with 20 mg/cm(2) of a carbomer 940 gel (vehicle) with or without P. umbellata root extract to a final concentration of 0.1%, for 2 h before irradiation. Another irradiated group received no topical treatment. A fourth group received no treatment and was not irradiated. Visible skin wrinkling was evaluated using a scale ranging from 0 to 4, where 0 corresponds to no skin modification, and 4 to the maximum visual skin alteration observed in our experiments. Histological measurements were carried out on standard haematoxylin & eosin stained sections. The mean distances between the outermost surface of the epidermis (excluding the stratum corneum) and the dermal-epidermal junction were determined by morphometric analysis. These distances were statistically increased in the irradiated control groups when compared to the nonirradiated control group and to the irradiated group using P. umbellata root extract. These data demonstrate that P. umbellata may be successfully used as a topical skin-protecting agent against the deleterious effects of UV radiation.     

Mitigation of acute ultraviolet B radiation-mediated damages by baicalin in mouse skin

Background: Solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, in particular UVB with a wavelength range between 290 and 320 nm, induces different hazardous effects on the skin, including sunburn, photoaging and cancer. Protection against sun-induced damage is therefore a highly desirable goal. Chemoprevention is being investigated as a potential approach for the management of UV damages including skin cancer.
Aim: In this study, to determine the relevance of our in vitro findings to in vivo situations, we assessed the effects of baicalin on UVB-mediated damages in mice skin.
Methods: Balb/C hairless mice were topically pretreated (24 h before UVB) or post-treated (5 min after UVB) with baicalin (1 mg/cm² skin area/mouse/100 μl acetone) and were exposed to UVB 24 h later (180 mJ/cm²). The animals were sacrificed 1 and 24 h after the UVB exposure. Skin edema, histopathology changes, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs)-positive cells were assessed to determine the UVB-induced photodamage.
Results: Our data demonstrated that a topical application of baicalin, either as a pretreatment or as a post-treatment, resulted in a significant decrease in UVB mediated increases in skin edema, skin hyperplasia and infiltration of leukocytes. Further, baicalin treatments (pre and post) also resulted in a significant decrease in UVB mediated (1) generation of H₂O₂ and (2) formation of DNA photolesions: CPDs.
Conclusion: Based on these data, we suggest that baicalin could be developed as an agent for the management of conditions elicited by UV exposure including skin cancer.     

Carcinogenesis studies with benzoyl peroxide (Panoxyl gel 5%)

Several groups of hairless mice were given UV radiation with and without pretreatment with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), 5% benzoyl peroxide in a gel (Panoxyl), and gel alone, in various combinations, with appropriate control groups included, in order to see whether benzoyl peroxide, which is known to enhance chemical skin carcinogenesis after a single, small dose of DMBA, also enhances UV carcinogenesis. The mice were observed for skin tumors, and all skin lesions were histologically investigated. The percentage of tumor-bearing animals with time is called the tumor rate, the total number of tumors occurring is called the tumor yield. Continual treatment with 5% benzoyl peroxide in gel twice a week, with or without a short pretreatment period of UV radiation resulted in only 2 skin carcinomas, which is remarkable, but not significant. Both Panoxyl and gel alone enhanced tumorigenicity significantly in animals pretreated with a single dose of 51.2 micrograms DMBA. There was no difference between the enhancement caused by Panoxyl and the gel as regards the tumor rate, but when measured as final tumor yield, Panoxyl was slightly more tumor-enhancing than gel alone. However, both Panoxyl and gel protected significantly against UV tumorigenesis (all tumors). There was no difference between the protective effect of the 2 types of treatment. Neither Panoxyl nor gel alone influenced significantly UV skin carcinogenesis (malignant tumors). It is concluded that under these experimental conditions both Panoxyl and gel alone tend to protect against the tumorigenicity and do not enhance the carcinogenicity of UV radiation in hairless mice, whereas both gel and Panoxyl enhance chemical carcinogenesis. The carcinogenic mechanisms may be different for UV and chemical carcinogenesis, respectively.     

Crucial role of fibroblast integrins alpha2 and beta1 in maintaining the structural and mechanical properties of the skin

BACKGROUND: In vivo functions of integrins in dermis have been investigated using several types of genetically integrin deficient mice. However, there are few studies to clarify actual in vivo functions of integrins in the dermis using normal type animals. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the actual in vivo functions of integrins in maintaining structural and mechanical properties in the normal skin by means of blocking interactions between fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix (ECM). METHODS: Intradermal injection of anti-integrin alpha2 or beta1 antibody into hairless rat skin was used to block the function of integrins. The dermal thickness was measured by an ultrasound scanner and the elastic properties of the skin was measured by Cutometer. RESULTS: Blocking integrin alpha2 or beta1 alone caused a moderate increase in dermal thickness. Blocking of integrins alpha1, alphaL or beta2 alone or blocking both integrins alpha1 and beta1 did not cause any change in the skin. However, blocking of both integrins alpha2 and beta1 caused a significant increase in dermal thickness accompanied by a marked loss of elastic properties. A clear change of the skin was observed within several minutes after injection, and continued for several hours. Treatment of human skin fibroblasts in collagen gel lattices with a mixture of anti-integrin alpha2 and beta1 antibodies in vitro caused marked and rapid morphological changes, but significant change was not observed with a treatment of alpha1, alpha2 or beta1 antibody alone. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that simultaneous functioning of integrins alpha2 and beta1 in fibroblasts play a crucial role in maintaining the structural and mechanical properties in the skin, which suggests that fibroblasts actively regulate collagen networks via these integrins.     

Photocarcinogenesis and toxicity of benzoyl peroxide in hairless mice after simulated solar radiation

Please cite this paper as: Photocarcinogenesis and toxicity of benzoyl peroxide in hairless mice after simulated solar radiation. Experimental Dermatology 2009; Abstract: Topical benzoyl peroxide (BPO) gel has long been used to treat acne vulgaris and has recently been combined with clindamycin (BPO‐clin). No skin malignancies have been reported after clinical use of BPO, but there has been concern about the possible carcinogenicity of BPO alone and in combination with UV radiation. BPO can promote skin tumorigenesis in a mouse skin chemical carcinogenesis model. As acne vulgaris is frequently localized on sun‐exposed areas, we investigated whether BPO or BPO‐clin accelerates photocarcinogenesis in combination with simulated solar radiation (SSR) in 12 groups of 25 hairless female C3.Cg/TifBomTac‐immunocompetent mice. BPO or BPO‐clin was applied topically to the back five times each week, followed by SSR three times each week (2, 3, or 4 standard erythema doses) 3–4 h later, for 365 days or until death. Generally BPO and BPO‐clin did not accelerate the time to first, second or third tumor. Therefore, there is no evidence suggesting that BPO or BPO‐clin is photocarcinogenic. However, we found significantly higher mortality in the SSR exposed groups receiving BPO and BPO‐clin compared with groups receiving only BPO or BPO‐clin. Our results show that BPO and the combination of BPO and clindamycin do not accelerate photocarcinogenesis, but are toxic in hairless mice. Based on the current data, the cancer risk associated with the use of BPO and BPO‐clin in sun‐exposed areas is minimal. Thus, while the carcinogenic potential of BPO is not fully understood, at the present time, evidence suggests that this compound is safe to use.