Nicole Paillous

Assessment of the skin photoprotective capacities of an organo-mineral broad-spectrum sunblock on two ex vivo skin models.

UV irradiation can cause cutaneous damage that may be specific according to the wavelength of UV rays. For example, damage from UVB irradiation manifests itself in the form of sunburn cells and enhancement of the expression of p53, while damage from UVA exposure results in an increase in the expression of vimentin. These reactions to UV irradiation were used in this work to evaluate the photoprotective capacities of two sunblock preparations that were applied to the surface of the skin. One sunblock preparation is a UVB absorber containing zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium oxide (TiO2) exclusively. The other sunblock preparation is a new organo‐mineral sunblock containing Tinosorb™ M, OCM, ZnO and TiO2. Evaluation of the photoprotective capacities of both preparations on hairless rat skin and on in vitro reconstructed human epidermis revealed that they were effective in preventing UVB‐induced damage. In contrast, only the organo‐mineral sunblock was effective in the prevention of UVA‐specific damage such as dermal alterations characterized by the expression of vimentin. Furthermore, our data support the fact that hairless rat skin and in vitro reconstructed human epidermis are a reliable basis for the evaluation of the photoprotective capacities of various sunscreens against UVB and UVA damage.

Tuning the mechanism of DNA cleavage photosensitized by ruthenium dipyridophenazine complexes by varying the structure of the two non intercalating ligands

The influence of the nature of ligands on the efficiency of ruthenium complexes for photosensitizing DNA cleavage was investigated. Ru(bipy)2dppz2+ and Ru(bpz)2dppz2+ were selected as DNA breakers on the basis of their high affinity for DNA due to the presence of a dppz ligand which can partially intercalate in the major groove of DNA. Their photosensitizing properties were compared to those of Ru(bipy)3(2+), a complex which binds to DNA with a far lower constant. Upon irradiation, these complexes promoted the formation of single strand breaks in supercoiled phi X 174 DNA. Unexpectedly, Ru(bipy)2dppz2+ was found to be less efficient than Ru(bipy)3(2+) whatever the dye concentration or the [base pair]/[Ru] molar ratio r. Scavenging experiments have shown that the oxidative DNA cleavage induced by Ru(bipy)2dppz2+ mainly results from a Type II mechanism. The behavior of Ru(bipy)2dppz2+ was different: this compound was clearly more efficient than Ru(bipy)3(2+) as DNA breaker and its efficiency was not modified by the presence of oxygen or by addition of scavengers of reactive oxygen species. In this case, a mechanism involving electron transfer between the excited state of the ruthenium complex and the guanine residue was proposed in agreement emission lifetime measurements. The change in mechanism observed between Ru(bipy)2dppz2+ and Ru (bipy)2dppz2+ results from an increase of the reduction potential of the ruthenium complexes in the excited state, which appears to be the main factor controlling the efficiency.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-photosensitized formation of pyrimidine dimer in DNA

Phototoxic nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may induce DNA damage in vitro upon irradiation. In this study, we investigated the ability of ketoprofen (KP), tiaprofenic acid (Tia), naproxen (NP) and indomethacin (IND) to photosensitize the formation of pyrimidine dimers and single strand breaks. Both kinds of damage were sought by analyzing DNA-drug mixtures irradiated at 313 nm by agarose gel electrophoresis. The formation of pyrimidine dimers was evidenced by using endonuclease V from bacteriophage T4 and compared to that induced by acetophenone, a well-known photosensitizer of thymine dimerization. Upon irradiation of DNA alone, pyrimidine dimers were observed while single strand breaks were not detected under our conditions. DNA, in the presence of NSAIDs, undergoes single strand breaks, the quantum yield of the DNA cleavage so induced (phiC) varying from 5 x 10(-4) for KP to 10(-5) for IND. The formation of dimers was only increased in the presence of KP or Tia. The quantum yields of pyrimidine dimers formed by photosensitization (phiD) were 2 x 10(-4) for KP and 10(-5) for Tia, respectively. The oxygen and concentration dependence of both processes was analyzed in the case of KP. In aerated solution, KP-photoinduced cleavage of DNA was predominant on the photodimerization process of pyrimidines, whereas in deaerated solution the cleavage was decreased and the dimerization increased. These results reflect competition between a radical process leading to DNA cleavage and a poorly efficient energy transfer between the drug and the pyrimidines at the origin of the dimerization process.

Comparison of DNA Damage Photoinduced by Ketoprofen, Fenofibric Acid and Benzophenone via Electron and Energy Transfer¶

Ketoprofen (KP) and fenofibrate, respectively, anti‐inflammatory and hypolipidemiant agents, promote anormal photosensitivity in patients and may induce photoallergic cross‐reactions correlated to their benzophenone‐like structure. Here, their ability to photosensitize the degradation of biological targets was particularly investigated in DNA. The photosensitization of DNA damage by KP and fenofibric acid (FB), the main metabolite of fenofibrate, and their parent compound, benzophenone (BZ), was examined on a 32P–end‐labeled synthetic oligonucleotide in phosphate‐buffered solution using gel sequencing experiments. Upon irradiation at λ > 320 nm, piperidine‐sensitive lesions were induced in single‐stranded oligonucleotides by KP, FB and BZ at all G sites to the same extent. This pattern of damage, enhanced in D2O is characteristic of a Type‐II mechanism. Spin trapping experiments using 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐4‐piperidone have confirmed the production of singlet oxygen during drug photolysis. On double‐stranded oligonucleotides, highly specific DNA break occurred selectively at 5′‐G of a 5′‐GG‐3′ sequence, after alkali treatment. Prolonged irradiation led to the degradation of all G residues, with efficiency decreasing in the order 5′‐GG > 5′‐GA > 5′‐GC > 5′‐GT, in good agreement with the calculated lowest ionization potentials of stacked nucleobase models supporting the assumption of a Type‐I mechanism involving electron transfer, also observed to a lesser extent with adenine. Cytosine sites were also affected but the action of mannitol which selectively inhibited cytosine lesions suggests, in this case, the involvement of hydroxyl radical, also detected by electronic paramagnetic resonance using 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrrolidine‐1‐oxide as spin trap. On a double‐stranded 32P–end‐labeled 25‐mer oligonucleotide containing TT and TTT sequences, the three compounds were found to photosensitize by triplet–triplet energy transfer the formation of cyclobutane thymine dimers detected using T4 endonuclease V.

Comparison of the DNA Damage Photoinduced by Fenofibrate and Ketoprofen, Two Phototoxic Drugs of Parent Structure

Fenofibrate and ketoprofen (KP) are two drugs of similar structure derived from that of benzophenone. Both are photoallergic and promote cross reactions in patients. However, the cutaneous photosensitizing properties of KP also include phototoxic effects and are more frequently mentioned. To account for this difference in their in vivo properties, their in vitro photosensitizing properties on DNA were compared. First, it was shown that under irradiation at 313 nm, fenofibric acid (FB), the main metabolite of fenofibrate, photosensitized DNA cleavage by a radical mechanism similar to that proposed for KP but with a 50 times lower efficiency. Furthermore, FB did not photosensitize the formation of pyrimidine dimers into DNA in contrast to KP, which did promote this type of DNA damage. Their difference in efficiency as DNA breakers was compared to their relative photochemical reactivity and the quantum yield of FB photolysis was found to be eightfold lower than that of KP. The reactivity of these drugs cannot explain alone the difference in their photosensitizing properties. Other factors such as the magnitude of the ionic character of the pho‐todecarboxylation pathway of these benzophenone‐like drugs are considered in the discussion.

Mechanisms of photosensitized DNA cleavage

Abstract Photosensitization may promote DNA damages such as nucleic acid oxidation or single strand breaks via three main pathways: hydroxyl radicals attack, electron transfer process or oxidation by singlet oxygen. While direct production of OH. by photosensitization is rarely observed, the mechanism of DNA attack by OH. is now well established on the basis of informations provided by water radiolysis experiments. Some dyes may also induce single strand breaks via an electron transfer occurring from a nucleobase to the sensitizer in the excited state. This process generates base radical cations identical to those arising from DNA photoionisation. These radicals may undergo deprotonation or dehydration to form the same neutral radicals as those produced by OH. but with a slightly different pattern. In contrast, while many sensitizers produce singlet oxygen, the mechanism of DNA damages induced by this way is still unclear. In this case the guanine moiety in nucleosides or in DNA is selectively altered leading to the formation of 8 oxoG or 8 oxodG and FapyGua. The mechanism of single strand breaks formation by singlet oxygen is discussed in this overview.

DNA strand breaks photosensitized by benoxaprofen and other non steroidal antiinflammatory agents.

Benoxaprofen, a non steroidal antiinflammatory drug is known to be highly phototoxic. Upon irradiation at 300 nm, benoxaprofen is shown to enhance the cleavage of phi X 174 DNA in buffered aqueous solution (pH 7.4). A linear relationship between the number of single strand breaks and the irradiation time is found. In deaerated solutions, these breaks are three times greater in the presence than in the absence of benoxaprofen. In both cases the rate of cleavage decreases in the presence of air. The rate of DNA damage increases with the drug per base pair ratio up to approximatively 0.2 and then decreases at higher ratios. Other NSAIDs, naproxen, ketoprofen, diflunisal, sulindac and indomethacin have been tested as photocleavers of DNA by using the same experimental conditions. A comparison of the efficiency of cleavage of all these drugs (including BNP) was obtained at drug concentrations such that the light absorbance was the same. Benoxaprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen and diflunisal induce single strand breaks. Sulindac and indomethacin do not cause breaks, and they can in some conditions even act as screening agents. The most efficient of the series are naproxen and ketoprofen. In the presence of oxygen, at the same concentrations as above, the efficiency of benoxaprofen, ketoprofen and diflunisal is decreased while that of naproxen is increased. This suggests that all these compounds do not interact with DNA by the same mechanism. In the case of BNP, the mechanism of photoinduced DNA cleavage is discussed in detail. It is shown that the photoactive agent is the decarboxylated derivative of benoxaprofen, as the photodecarboxylation of benoxaprofen is much faster than the photocleavage of DNA.

Interactions of amiodarone with model membranes and amiodarone-photoinduced peroxidation of lipids.

The potent antiarrhythmic drug, amiodarone (AMIO) exhibits phototoxicity, which is thought to be related to its interaction with biological membranes. We report here a spectroscopic study of the interactions of this drug with phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes used as membrane model systems. A linear increase in absorbance at 300 nm was observed with increasing addition of AMIO to dimyristoyl-DL-PC (DMPC) liposomes over all the drugs-lipid molar ratio (Ri)s tested. In contrast, in the dimyristoyl-DL-PG (DMPG) liposomes, there was a dramatic increase in absorbance at values of Ri above unity. Light scattering by DMPG liposomes at 350 nm increased with increasing AMIO concentration up to a Ri = 1, and then decreased with increasing drug concentration. Such changes were not observed with the DMPC liposomes. Moreover, addition of AMIO changed the fluorescence polarization rate of 1,6-diphenyl 1,3,5-hexatriene embedded in these liposomes. It reduced the rate below the phase transition temperature (Tt) of the lipid, but increased it above this temperature. These effects on the lipidic phases observed at low Ri were more pronounced on the DMPG than on the DMPC liposomes. The strong interactions of AMIO with phospholipids, especially the acidic ones, were confirmed by liposome size determinations. All these data strongly suggest that the drug was incorporated in the core of the lipid bilayers. Such a penetration would favor a drug-photoinduced peroxidation of lipids. Indeed, UV irradiation of AMIO-DOPG mixtures led to the disappearance of the unsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids, checked by gas chromatography measurements, which was correlated with the amount of oxygen consumed. This showed that AMIO did photosensitize phospholipid peroxidation.

First electrochemical investigation of the redox properties of DOPA-melanins by means of a carbon paste electrode

Abstract The electrochemical properties of eumelanins, a cutaneous pigment responsible for skin color, insoluble in any solvent, was studied by using a carbon paste electrode. Eumelanins synthesized by enzymatic oxidation of l -DOPA were included in the carbon paste. The concentration of melanins (10%) and the potential scan rate (10 −4 V s −1 ) were chosen in ranges for which there is a linear relationship between these parameters and the current peak intensity. In these thin-layer conditions, the voltammogram of eumelanins at pH 5.6 reveals two main peaks in oxidation at +460 and +525 mV versus SCE and in reduction at +20 and −355 mV versus SCE. No variation of peak potential was observed when the pH was varied in the range 2–8. An average of two electrons (three for the first oxidation scan) were exchanged in these redox processes whereas the number of subunits in one molecule of melanin was around 15 as found by MALDI mass spectroscopy experiments. These results support the assumption of an irregular organization of monomer units in the structure of melanins.

PHOTOLYSIS OF AMIODARONE, AN ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUG

Abstract— The photochemical behaviour of amiodarone was examined in vitro in order to get more insight on the chemical reactions involved in the cutaneous phototoxicity processes. Irradiation at 300 nm of amiodarone degassed in ethanol solution leads to a photodehalogenation followed by a much slower α‐cleavage reaction. Desethylamiodarone, the main metabolite of AD was found to undergo the same reaction as AD. Results of photosensitization and quenching experiments together with phosphorescence spectra indicated that the reaction proceeds via the triplet excited stateof amiodarone. Radical species formed during photolysis were identified by ESR spectroscopy. CH3CHOH, HO2 and an unidentified radical were detected using 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline‐1‐oxide as spin trap. In aerated solutions, photosensitization of oxygen by amiodarone was demonstrated by adding singlet oxygen scavengers such as dimethylfuran and cholesterol. Overall, these results suggest that Type I and Type II mechanisms may take place in the phototoxicity of amiodarone and its metabolite.