In Vitro Effects of Several Irritants Using Human Keratinocyte Culture Model

Eun, Hee Chul; Choi, Sung Woo; Lee, Ai Young; Lee, Myung Chul

Abstract

Primary irritant dermatitis is one of the most common skin disease caused by various hazardous chemicals produced from the environment. For the detection of skin irritant potency, in vivo models such as human and animal patch test have been used, Keratinocyte culture method which has been set up very recently is another alternative in vivo method of detecting skin irritarlcy. LVe have investigated the effects of three skin irritants, phenol, benzoyl peroxide (BP), and sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) on the keratinocyte culture system. Prostaglandin E(PGE) measurement, cell count and electron microscopic observation were performed after adding three irritants of different concentrations to the cultured keranocyte cells. The main results of this study were as follows : 1. There were statistically significant decreased cell number in concentration of 10 M phenol, 10 4M BP and SLS. The order of cytotoxic potency was SLS>BP >phenol. 2. In case of PGE production, decreased PGE production was observed 6 hours after addition of the irritants, except 10 M phenol and 10M BP groups. Decrea sing tendency sustained until 24 hours, however all were statistically nonsignificant comparing with control group. 3. Electron microscopic finding showed that dilatation of endoplasmic reticulums in 10 M phenol group, condensation and dilatation of mitochondrias in 10 4M BP group, and most of the cells were swollen in 10 4M SLS group. These results suggest that cell count is a useful model for performing cytotoxi city test in keratinocyte culture decreased PGE production represents cytotoxic effect in high concentration of primary irritants and ultrastructural changes may reflect the different pathomechanisms in cytotoxicity.