Dermatology 2016-01-01

T-Cell Responses to Tyrosinase-Derived Self-Peptides in Patients with Leukoderma Induced by Rhododendrol: Implications for Immunotherapy Targeting Melanoma.

Rie Takagi, Masaaki Kawano, Koichiro Nakamura, Tetsuya Tsuchida, Sho Matsushita

Index: Dermatology 232 , 44-9, (2016)

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Abstract

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.To test the hypothesis that the disease is an autoimmune disorder.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.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.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.© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.