An immune pathological and ultrastructural skin analysis for rhododenol-induced leukoderma patients.

Abstract

As reported in the mass media on July 2013, numerous consumers who had used the cosmetic ingredient containing rhododendrol (4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanol, Trade name; rhododenol), which is a melanin inhibitor isolated from Acer nikoense Maxim, released from Kanebo Cosmetics Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) noticed leukoderma patches on their face, neck and hands. We have experienced 32 cases that developed leukoderma after using such cosmetics so far and skin biopsy samples in some cases were obtained from both leukoderma and pigmented lesions. A histopathological analysis for skin lesions obtained from such patients notably showed basal hypo-pigmentation, melanin incontinence, and remaining melanocytes in most patients which is not relevant in vitiligo vulgaris. Subsequently, we comprehensively carried out immunohistochemical analyses of immune-competent cells infiltration to assess the effect of the cellular immune response to inducible hypopigmentation. Furthermore, detailed morphological observations performed by electron-microscopy notably showed the presence of melanocytes with only a small number of melanosomes, dermal fibroblasts containing melanosome globules and melanophages whereas no damage associated with melanosome transfer and the basal layer apparatus. These findings provide a cue to diagnose as rhododenol-induced leukoderma differentiate from vitiligo vulgaris and for rhododendrol to induce local immunity in addition to melanocyte damage.

• Authors: Atsushi Tanemura, Lingli Yang, Fei Yang, Yuiko Nagata, Mari Wataya-Kaneda, Kazuyoshi Fukai, Daisuke Tsuruta, Rintaro Ohe, Mitsunori Yamakawa, Tamio Suzuki, Ichiro Katayama
• Journal: Journal of dermatological science (J Dermatol Sci) Vol. 77 Issue 3 Pg. 185-8 (Mar 2015) ISSN: 1873-569X [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 25676426 (Publication Type: Letter, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Butanols
• Cosmetics
• MART-1 Antigen
• MITF protein, human
• MLANA protein, human
• Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor
• rhododendrol

Topics

• Butanols (adverse effects)
• CD4-CD8 Ratio
• Cosmetics (adverse effects)
• Fibroblasts
• Humans
• Hypopigmentation (chemically induced, immunology, pathology)
• MART-1 Antigen (analysis)
• Melanocytes (chemistry)
• Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor (analysis)
• Skin (immunology, ultrastructure)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory