Name: quantification of hypopigmentation activity in vitro
Uploaded: 2019-03-06T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (IPET) through the Agri-Bioindustry Technology Development Program, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) (116159-02-2-WT011) and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology for BK21 PLUS, Korea University.

1. Preparation of Medium, Compounds, and Reagents
<ol>
	<li>Prepare B16F10 growth complete medium. Supplement Dulbecco&#8217;s modified Eagle&#8217;s medium (DMEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin (PEST).
	<ol>
		<li>To make 500 mL of complete medium, mix 445 mL of Dulbecco&#8217;s modified Eagle&#8217;s medium (DMEM) with 50 mL of FBS and 5 mL of PEST in a 1 L sterilized glass bottle. After mixing gently, filter the medium through a 0.2-&#181;m bottle-top filter to a new sterilized glas...

<ol>
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J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dual+inhibitions+of+lemon+balm+(Melissa+officinalis)+ethanolic+extract+on+melanogenesis+in+B16-F1+murine+melanocytes:+inhibition+of+tyrosinase+activity+and+its+gene+expression.">Dual inhibitions of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) ethanolic extract on melanogenesis in B16-F1 murine melanocytes: inhibition of tyrosinase activity and its gene expression.</a> Food Science and Biotechnology. 20 (4), 1051-1059 (2011).</li><li>Jun, H. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=p-Coumaric+acid+inhibition+of+CREB+phosphorylation+reduces+cellular+melanogenesis.">p-Coumaric acid inhibition of CREB phosphorylation reduces cellular melanogenesis.</a> European Food Research and Technology. 235 (6), 1207-1211 (2012).</li><li>Jun, H. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dual+inhibition+of+&#947;-oryzanol+on+cellular+melanogenesis:+inhibition+of+tyrosinase+activity+and+reduction+of+melanogenic+gene+expression+by+a+protein+kinase+a-dependent+mechanism.">Dual inhibition of &#947;-oryzanol on cellular melanogenesis: inhibition of tyrosinase activity and reduction of melanogenic gene expression by a protein kinase a-dependent mechanism.</a> Journal of Natural Products. 75 (10), 1706-1711 (2012).</li><li>Choi, Y. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+the+isoflavone+puerarin+and+its+glycosides+on+melanogenesis+in+B16+melanocytes.">Effects of the isoflavone puerarin and its glycosides on melanogenesis in B16 melanocytes.</a> European Food Research and Technology. 231 (1), 75-83 (2010).</li><li>Cho, B. R., Jun, H. J., Thach, T. T., Wu, C., Lee, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Betaine+reduces+cellular+melanin+content+via+suppression+of+microphthalmia-associated+transcription+factor+in+B16-F1+murine+melanocytes.">Betaine reduces cellular melanin content via suppression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor in B16-F1 murine melanocytes.</a> Food Science and Biotechnology. 26 (5), 1391-1397 (2017).</li><li>Overwijk, W. W., Restifo, N. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=B16+as+a+mouse+model+for+human+melanoma.">B16 as a mouse model for human melanoma.</a> Current Protocols in Immunology. , (2001).</li><li>Virador, V. M., Kobayashi, N., Matsunaga, J., Hearing, V. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+standardized+protocol+for+assessing+regulators+of+pigmentation.">A standardized protocol for assessing regulators of pigmentation.</a> Analytical Biochemistry. 270 (2), 207-219 (1999).</li><li>D'Mello, S. A. N., Finlay, G. J., Baguley, B. C., Askarian-Amiri, M. 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P., MacNeil, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=&#945;-MSH+and+melanogenesis+in+normal+human+adult+melanocytes.">&#945;-MSH and melanogenesis in normal human adult melanocytes.</a> Pigment Cell Research. 11 (1), 45-56 (1998).</li><li>Hu, D. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Methodology+for+evaluation+of+melanin+content+and+production+of+pigment+cells+in+vitro.">Methodology for evaluation of melanin content and production of pigment cells in vitro.</a> Photochemistry and Photobiology. 84 (3), 645-649 (2008).</li><li>Carriel, V. 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We presented protocols for evaluating the hypopigmentation activity of test compounds using cultured melanocytes. The representative results showed the hypopigmentation effect of arbutin, a tyrosinase inhibitor that inhibited tyrosinase activity and cellular melanin content. These methods are widely used in anti-melanogenic activity research. Using these assays, we have also successfully identified several bioactive compounds that have melanogenesis inhibitory effects on B16F10 cells in the past decade9...

Melanin plays a critical role in the physiology, pathology, and toxicology of several organs including the skin, eyes, and brain1. Major functions of melanin are photo-screening and biochemical effects. Melanin absorbs near-infrared and visible light as well as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, with increased absorption rates at shorter wavelengths of light; thus, melanin protects tissues from damage caused by visible light or UV radiation2. Melanin is an antioxidant and has an affinity for metals and other toxic chemicals; therefore, it can protect tissues from oxidative and chemical stress3. However, the excessive production of melanin causes dermatological issues.
The quantity and quality of melanin in the skin and iris are the most important determinants of the color of the iris and skin. Individuals may have different skin color preferences; some favor tanned skin, while others favor lighter skin colors. Depending on these consumer profiles, hypopigmentation cosmetics have been developed to satisfy individual markets for favored skin colors4. Accordingly, studies of hypopigmentation and anti-melanogenic activity are important both scientifically and practically.
Melanogenesis is the complex process of melanin biosynthesis through a series of enzymatic and spontaneous chemical reactions in melanocytes. One melanocyte is surrounded by approximately 36 keratinocytes and melanocytes are the melanin synthesis factories that distribute their product to neighboring keratinocytes. In skin, the melanin produced and stored in the melanosomal compartment of melanocytes is transported to neighboring keratinocytes in the epidermis via dendrites.
L-Tyrosine serves as the initial substrate for melanogenesis and the enzyme tyrosinase catalyzes two consecutive reactions that convert L-tyrosine into 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and then into dopaquinone. These reactions are the rate-limiting step in melanogenesis5,6. Accordingly, hypopigmentation activity can first be measured by assessing cellular tyrosinase activity directly. To do so, melanocyte extracts containing tyrosinase are incubated with DOPA and the dopaquinone produced in the samples can be measured by spectrophotometry at 475 nm. The values are normalized by the protein concentrations of the samples, and substances with hypopigmentation activity result in less dopaquinone formation compared with controls.
Secondly, hypopigmentation activity can be quantified by measuring melanin in cultured melanocytes directly. After treating cells with the test material, melanin is extracted under alkaline conditions and the melanin content is quantified by spectrophotometry at 400 nm. A hypopigmentation agent will result in a lower melanin content than the controls7.
Finally, the hypopigmentation activity can be quantified by Fontana-Masson melanin staining and subsequent image analysis. In Fontana-Masson staining, melanin granules reduce ammonia-silver nitrate to a visible black metallic state and the black areas of cells in microscopic images represent the amount of melanin.
A hypopigmentation agent usually gives consistent and comparable results with these three methods, which confirms that the activity of the substance is valid. Alternatively, it may be useful to measure the expression of key genes and proteins in melanogenesis in response to a test substance to examine hypopigmentation activity. In addition to tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related proteins (TRP-1) and dopachrome tautomerase (TRP-2) are critical enzymes in melanogenesis8. The transcription factor microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a master regulator in melanogenesis and quantification of its gene/protein expression levels or a promoter activity assay can also be used to assess hypopigmentation activity.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3,4-Dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D9628</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ammonium hydroxide solution</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>#320145</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Arbutin</td>
			<td>Fluka</td>
			<td>#10960</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM</td>
			<td>HyClone</td>
			<td>SH30243.01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FBS</td>
			<td>HyClone</td>
			<td>SH30084.03</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Formalin</td>
			<td>Yakuri Pure Chemicals</td>
			<td>#16223</td>
			<td>37%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gold chloride</td>
			<td>American MasterTech</td>
			<td>AHG0226</td>
			<td>0.10%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HCl</td>
			<td>Samchun chemical</td>
			<td>H0255</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>Bio basic Canada Inc.</td>
			<td>PB0440</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KH2PO4</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>#60218</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Na2HPO4</td>
			<td>J.T.Baker</td>
			<td>#3817-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Duksan pure chemicals</td>
			<td>#81</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaOH</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>655104</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nuclear fast red</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>100121</td>
			<td>Nuclear fast red 0.1% in 5% aluminum sulfate.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin and streptomycin solution</td>
			<td>HyClone</td>
			<td>SV30010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silver nitrate</td>
			<td>Duksan Pure Chemicals</td>
			<td>#900</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium phosphate dibasic (Na2HPO4)</td>
			<td>J.T. Baker</td>
			<td>#3817-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium phosphate monobasic (Na2HPO4)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S5011</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate</td>
			<td>Duksan Pure Chemicals</td>
			<td>#2163</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane</td>
			<td>Bio Basic Canada</td>
			<td>TB0196</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Union Carbide</td>
			<td>T8787</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tyrosinase from mushroom</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T3824</td>
			<td>25 KU</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

quantification of hypopigmentation activity in vitro

This study presents laboratory methods for the quantification of hypopigmentation activity in vitro. Melanin, the major pigment in melanocytes, is synthesized in response to multiple cellular and environmental factors. Melanin protects skin cells from ultraviolet damage, but also has biophysical and biochemical functions. Excessive production or accumulation of melanin in melanocytes can cause dermatological problems, such as freckles, dark spots, melasma, and moles. Therefore, the control of melanogenesis with hypopigmentation agents is important in individuals with clinical or cosmetic needs. Melanin is primarily synthesized in the melanosomes of melanocytes in a complex biochemical process called melanogenesis, which is influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors, such as hormones, inflammation, age, and ultraviolet light exposure. We describe three methods to determine the hypopigmentation activity of chemicals or natural substances in melanocytes: measurement of the 1) cellular tyrosinase activity and 2) melanin content, and 3) staining and quantifying cellular melanin with image analysis.
In melanogenesis, tyrosinase catalyzes the rate-limiting step that converts L-tyrosine into 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and then into dopaquinone. Therefore, the inhibition of tyrosinase is a primary hypopigmentation mechanism. In cultured melanocytes, tyrosinase activity can be quantified by adding L-DOPA as a substrate and measuring dopaquinone production by spectrophotometry. Melanogenesis can also be measured by quantifying the melanin content. The melanin-containing cellular fraction is extracted with NaOH and melanin is quantified spectrophotometrically. Finally, the melanin content can be quantified by image analysis following Fontana-Masson staining of melanin. Although the results of these in vitro assays may not always be reproduced in human skin, these methods are widely used in melanogenesis research, especially as the initial step to identify potential hypopigmentation activity. These methods can also be used to assess melanocyte activity, growth, and differentiation. Consistent results with the three different methods ensure the validity of the effects.

Representative results for the hypopigmentation activity of arbutin, an anti-melanogenic compound, in B16F10 melanocytes are shown below. Figure 1A shows that arbutin significantly suppressed the cellular tyrosinase activity compared with the vehicle-treated control. Similarly, the melanin content of cells stimulated with arbutin was significantly reduced compared with the controls (Figure 1B). Microscopic images of cells stained...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro at JoVE.com

Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro

We describe three experimental methods for evaluating the hypopigmentation activity of chemicals in vitro: quantification of 1) cellular tyrosinase activity and 2) melanin content, and 3) measurement of melanin by cellular melanin staining and image analysis.

This study presents laboratory methods for the quantification of hypopigmentation activity in vitro. Melanin, the major pigment in melanocytes, is ...

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