title: T-Cell Responses to Tyrosinase-Derived Self-Peptides in Patients with Leukoderma Induced by Rhododendrol: Implications for Immunotherapy Targeting Melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhododendrol, a phenolic compound contained in lightening/whitening cosmetics, can bind and inhibit tyrosinase and was reported to induce leukoderma in Japan. Only 2% of the cosmetics users are affected, and tacrolimus is effective in treatment of the condition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that the disease is an autoimmune disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Short-term T-cell lines were established using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 8 patients with human melanoma-associated and tyrosinase-derived synthetic peptides. The effects of rhododendrol on melanoma immunization were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven out of 8 patients were positive for HLA-DR4. Both class I- and class II-restricted and tyrosinase peptide-specific T-cell responses were observed. Immunization of mice with rhododendrol-treated and irradiated B16 melanoma cells successfully delayed the growth of melanoma cells in vivo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rhododendrol-induced leukoderma is an autoimmune disorder, with rhododendrol as an environmental factor and HLA-DR4 as a genetic factor. Rhododendrol might be effective in treating melanomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Moroyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.forename: Sho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsushita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000440:Butanols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000209:etiology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000440:Butanols; C115945:rhododendrol; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase