title: 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: Department of Dermatology Integrated Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. Electronic address: tanemura@derma.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Tanemura
authors: Department of Dermatology Integrated Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Lingli
authors: L
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Dermatology Integrated Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Dermatology Integrated Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Yuiko
authors: Y
authors: Nagata
authors: Department of Dermatology Integrated Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Mari
authors: M
authors: Wataya-Kaneda
authors: Department of Dermatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Kazuyoshi
authors: K
authors: Fukai
authors: Department of Dermatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Tsuruta
authors: Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Rintaro
authors: R
authors: Ohe
authors: Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Mitsunori
authors: M
authors: Yamakawa
authors: Department of Dermatology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Tamio
authors: T
authors: Suzuki
authors: Department of Dermatology Integrated Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Ichiro
authors: I
authors: Katayama
mesh_terms: D000440:Butanols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D058965:MART-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
chemical_list: D000440:Butanols; D003358:Cosmetics; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; C497234:MITF protein, human; C548667:MLANA protein, human; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; C115945:rhododendrol
keywords: Histopathological and ultrastructural analyses of the skin; Immune-competent cells; Rhododenol-induced leukoderma