Use of Human Skin Reconstructs in the Study of Pigment Modifiers

Abstract

To assay drugs that modify pigmentation (ie, agents that either enhance or decrease pigmentation) in a predictive in vitro model, as such drugs have been previously studied in vivo on human and animal skin. An epidermis was reconstructed with human keratinocytes and melanocytes. Epidermal reconstructs with melanocytes were made according to a variant of the model of Pruniéras and colleagues. Reagents that alter melanogenesis such as isobutyl methylxanthine, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol, kojic acid, and mequinol were introduced in the culture medium or used topically after 8 days of culture at the air-liquid interface. Macroscopic, colorimetric, histological (Fontana-Masson stain and dopa reaction), and biochemical studies were performed. The effect of pigment modifiers was demonstrated ex vivo as expected from in vivo data on skin color, numbers of melanocytes, melanosome transfer, and melanin content. These results will permit other investigators to use this model to assess the efficacy of novel molecules that alter pigmentation.