title: Ebselen is a new skin depigmenting agent that inhibits melanin biosynthesis and melanosomal transfer.
abstract: We assessed the ability of ebselen, a glutathione peroxidase mimic, to reduce pigmentation in various models. In murine B16 melanocytes, 25 μm ebselen inhibited melanogenesis and induced a depolymerisation of actin filaments. In co-cultures of B16 melanocytes with BDVII keratinocytes, a pretreatment of melanocytes with ebselen resulted in a strong inhibition of melanosome transfer to keratinocytes, as shown under optical and electron microscopy. In reconstructed epidermis, topical 0.5% ebselen led to a twofold decrease of melanin without affecting the density of active melanocytes. A similar result was obtained with topical 0.5% ebselen in black guinea pig ears. Ebselen induced a decrease of epidermal melanin parallel to a localisation of melanin and melanosomes in the basal layer. Ebselen appears as a new depigmenting compound that inhibits melanin synthesis and melanosome transfer to keratinocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. behroozkasraee@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kasraee
authors.forename: Damjan S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Nikolic
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carraux
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fontao
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piguet
authors.forename: Gholamhossein R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Omrani
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sorg
authors.forename: Jean-Hilaire
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Saurat
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001393:Azoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004431:Ear, External; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D054833:Isoindoles; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020460:Melanosomes / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001393:Azoles; D054833:Isoindoles; D008543:Melanins; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; C042986:ebselen; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase