Basic Red 51, a permitted semi-permanent hair dye, is cytotoxic to human skin cells: Studies in monolayer and 3D skin model using human keratinocytes (HaCaT)

Author(s)

Zanoni, Thalita B. ^[1] ; Tiago, Manoela ^[2] ; Faiao-Flores, Fernanda ^[2] ; de Moraes Barros, Silvia B. ^[2] ; Bast, Aalt ^[3] ; Hageman, Geja ^[3] ; de Oliveira, Danielle Palma ^[1] ; Maria-Engler, Silvya S. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Environm Toxicol, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Clin Chem & Toxicol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Maastricht Univ, Res Inst NUTRIM, Maastricht - Netherlands

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Toxicology Letters; v. 227, n. 2, p. 139-149, JUN 5 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 14

Abstract

The use of hair dyes is closely associated with the increase of cancer, inflammation and other skin disorders. The recognition that human skin is not an impermeable barrier indicates that there is the possibility of human systemic exposure. The carcinogenic potential of hair dye ingredients has attracted the attention of toxicologists for many decades, mainly due to the fact that some ingredients belong to the large chemical family of aromatic amines. Herein, we investigated the cytotoxicity of Basic Red 51 (BR51) in immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT). BR51 is a temporary hair dye that belongs to the azo group (N=N); the cleavage of this bond may result in the release of toxic aromatic amines. The half maximal effective concentration (EC50) in HaCaT cells is 13 mu g/mL. BR51 induced a significant decrease on expression of p21 in a dose dependent manner. p53 was not affected, whereas BR51 decreased procaspase 8 and cleaved procaspase 9. These results proved that caspase 3 is fully involved in BR51-induced apoptosis. The dye was also able to stop this cell cycle on G2 in sub-toxic doses. Moreover, we reconstructed a 3D artificial epidermis using HaCaT cells; using this model, we observed that BR51 induced cell injury and cells were undergoing apoptosis, considering the fragmented nuclei. Subsequently, BR51 induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to an increase on the levels of 8-oxo-dG. In conclusion, we provide strong evidence that consumer and/or professional exposure to BR51 poses risk to human health. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/07116-6 - Profile evaluation of citotoxicity, mutagenicty and genotoxicity of the dyes Basic Red 51, Basic Yellow 57 and P-Phenylenodiamine used in hair dye on skin cells.
• Grantee: Thalita Boldrin Zanoni
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 11/07441-7 - Development of an artificial skin platform for risk assessment
• Grantee: Silvya Stuchi Maria-Engler
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants