Balancing act: optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cells
IntroductionRecent findings show that visible light, particularly blue light, stimulates melanogenesis in human skin, though the underlying mechanisms remain debated. This study aimed to determine the cell damage threshold of non-ionizing blue light on keratinocytes while preserving their ability to...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1513054/full |
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| author | Augustin C. Barolet Augustin C. Barolet Augustin C. Barolet Augustin C. Barolet Brice Magne Brice Magne Brice Magne Karel Ferland Karel Ferland Karel Ferland Natallia E. Uzunbajakava Daniel Barolet Daniel Barolet Lucie Germain Lucie Germain Lucie Germain |
| author_facet | Augustin C. Barolet Augustin C. Barolet Augustin C. Barolet Augustin C. Barolet Brice Magne Brice Magne Brice Magne Karel Ferland Karel Ferland Karel Ferland Natallia E. Uzunbajakava Daniel Barolet Daniel Barolet Lucie Germain Lucie Germain Lucie Germain |
| author_sort | Augustin C. Barolet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionRecent findings show that visible light, particularly blue light, stimulates melanogenesis in human skin, though the underlying mechanisms remain debated. This study aimed to determine the cell damage threshold of non-ionizing blue light on keratinocytes while preserving their ability to stimulate melanogenesis.MethodsHuman keratinocytes (N = 3) and melanocytes (N = 3) were isolated from skin samples of varying Fitzpatrick skin phototypes and irradiated with blue light (λpeak = 457 nm) and UVA light (λpeak = 385 nm). Cellular metabolic activity was assessed using the AlamarBlue HS assay, α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH) production by keratinocytes was quantified using ELISA, and Western blotting was used to assess pro-melanogenic factor expression in melanocytes.ResultsHigh blue light intensity (50 mW/cm2, 50 J/cm2) and UVA light (15 mW/cm2, 20 J/cm2) significantly reduced cellular metabolic activity, with a 0.86 ± 0.055 and 0.60 ± 0.031 (mean ± SD) fold decrease compared to their respective sham by day 7. In contrast, moderate blue light intensities (5–15 mW/cm2, 10–20 J/cm2) preserved cellular metabolic activity while stimulating α-MSH production, with an optimal balance achieved at 10 mW/cm2, 15 J/cm2 (1.14 ± 0.046 fold increase relative to sham on day 7). Co-culture experiments confirmed that irradiated keratinocytes enhanced melanogenesis in melanocytes via paracrine signaling, increasing the expression of Tyrosinase and Dopachrome Tautomerase (DCT). Direct blue light irradiation on melanocytes also increased pigmentation without significant cellular damage.DiscussionModerate-intensity blue light at 10 mW/cm2, 15 J/cm2 effectively stimulates melanogenesis while maintaining cellular metabolic activity in both keratinocytes and melanocytes, offering a promising, safe approach for blue light therapies targeting pigmentation disorders. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-de70ca7f5a5a4d1ab12a19ccb60fcd7b2025-01-09T06:10:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-01-011510.3389/fphys.2024.15130541513054Balancing act: optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cellsAugustin C. Barolet0Augustin C. Barolet1Augustin C. Barolet2Augustin C. Barolet3Brice Magne4Brice Magne5Brice Magne6Karel Ferland7Karel Ferland8Karel Ferland9Natallia E. Uzunbajakava10Daniel Barolet11Daniel Barolet12Lucie Germain13Lucie Germain14Lucie Germain15Regenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Quebec – Université Laval Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, CanadaCentre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l’Université Laval (LOEX), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, CanadaRoseLab Skin Optics Research Laboratory, Laval, QC, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, CanadaRegenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Quebec – Université Laval Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, CanadaCentre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l’Université Laval (LOEX), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, CanadaRegenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Quebec – Université Laval Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, CanadaCentre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l’Université Laval (LOEX), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, CanadaDepartment of Hybrid Printed Electronics, TNO at the Holst Centre, Eindhoven, NetherlandsRoseLab Skin Optics Research Laboratory, Laval, QC, CanadaDermatology Division, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, CanadaRegenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Quebec – Université Laval Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, CanadaCentre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l’Université Laval (LOEX), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, CanadaIntroductionRecent findings show that visible light, particularly blue light, stimulates melanogenesis in human skin, though the underlying mechanisms remain debated. This study aimed to determine the cell damage threshold of non-ionizing blue light on keratinocytes while preserving their ability to stimulate melanogenesis.MethodsHuman keratinocytes (N = 3) and melanocytes (N = 3) were isolated from skin samples of varying Fitzpatrick skin phototypes and irradiated with blue light (λpeak = 457 nm) and UVA light (λpeak = 385 nm). Cellular metabolic activity was assessed using the AlamarBlue HS assay, α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH) production by keratinocytes was quantified using ELISA, and Western blotting was used to assess pro-melanogenic factor expression in melanocytes.ResultsHigh blue light intensity (50 mW/cm2, 50 J/cm2) and UVA light (15 mW/cm2, 20 J/cm2) significantly reduced cellular metabolic activity, with a 0.86 ± 0.055 and 0.60 ± 0.031 (mean ± SD) fold decrease compared to their respective sham by day 7. In contrast, moderate blue light intensities (5–15 mW/cm2, 10–20 J/cm2) preserved cellular metabolic activity while stimulating α-MSH production, with an optimal balance achieved at 10 mW/cm2, 15 J/cm2 (1.14 ± 0.046 fold increase relative to sham on day 7). Co-culture experiments confirmed that irradiated keratinocytes enhanced melanogenesis in melanocytes via paracrine signaling, increasing the expression of Tyrosinase and Dopachrome Tautomerase (DCT). Direct blue light irradiation on melanocytes also increased pigmentation without significant cellular damage.DiscussionModerate-intensity blue light at 10 mW/cm2, 15 J/cm2 effectively stimulates melanogenesis while maintaining cellular metabolic activity in both keratinocytes and melanocytes, offering a promising, safe approach for blue light therapies targeting pigmentation disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1513054/fullblue lightcell viabilitymelanogenesismelanocytesalpha-MSHkeratinocytes |
| spellingShingle | Augustin C. Barolet Augustin C. Barolet Augustin C. Barolet Augustin C. Barolet Brice Magne Brice Magne Brice Magne Karel Ferland Karel Ferland Karel Ferland Natallia E. Uzunbajakava Daniel Barolet Daniel Barolet Lucie Germain Lucie Germain Lucie Germain Balancing act: optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cells Frontiers in Physiology blue light cell viability melanogenesis melanocytes alpha-MSH keratinocytes |
| title | Balancing act: optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cells |
| title_full | Balancing act: optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cells |
| title_fullStr | Balancing act: optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Balancing act: optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cells |
| title_short | Balancing act: optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cells |
| title_sort | balancing act optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cells |
| topic | blue light cell viability melanogenesis melanocytes alpha-MSH keratinocytes |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1513054/full |
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