title: Phototherapeutic, photobiologic, and photosensitizing properties of khellin.
abstract: Khellin, whose chemical structure closely resembles that of psoralen, is reported to be an efficient drug for treating vitiligo when combined with ultraviolet A irradiation. Photobiological activity on yeast is found to be much lower than that of bifunctional psoralens such as 5-methoxypsoralen. In vitro experiments reveal that khellin is a poor photosensitizer. It behaves as a monofunctional agent with respect to DNA photoaddition. It does not photoinduce cross-links in DNA in vitro or in Chinese hamster cells in vivo. This behavior may explain the low photogenotoxicity in yeast and the lack of phototoxic erythemal response when treating vitiligo with khellin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Recherche Bioclinique en Dermatologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Creteil, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morliere
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hönigsmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Averbeck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dardalhon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hüppe
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ortel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santus
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubertret
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006224:Cricetinae; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005796:Genes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007666:Khellin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D011564:Furocoumarins; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D007666:Khellin; D004247:DNA