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Dual suppressive effect of p-coumaric acid on pigmentation in B16F10 cells

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Abstract

Background

Hyperpigmentation, frequently triggered by an excessive production of melanin, is a common issue within the realms of dermatology and cosmetology. In addition to regulating tyrosinase activity, the autophagy process plays a role in melanosome turnover, contributing to pigmentation control. p-Coumaric acid (PCA), a dietary phenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, was investigated for its dual suppressive effects on melanin production induced by alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and autophagy inhibitors in B16F10 cells.

Results

PCA (25–100 µg/mL) serves as a potent in vitro inhibitor of tyrosinase activity. In addition, PCA can effectively mitigate the upregulation of tyrosinase gene expression (P < 0.01) and its cellular activities induced by α-MSH. In contrast to early-stage autophagy inhibitors like SBI0206965 (SBI) and spautin-1, treatment with 50 µM of chloroquine (CQ) and 20 nM of bafilomycin A1 (BFA), both of which inhibit the late stages of the autophagic process, results in an increase in melanin content within B16F10 cells, independent of cellular tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, PCA treatment could protect cells against CQ and BFA-induced lysosomal damage, ultimately leading to the promotion of autolysosome formation and the activation of the autophagic process, which results in melanin degradation.

Conclusions

In summary, PCA exhibits dual suppressive effects on melanogenesis via inhibiting tyrosinase activity and melanin accumulation caused by lysosomal dysfunction. These effects offer an enhanced opportunity for the development of a safe and effective anti-melanogenesis agent.

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Data availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Abbreviations

BFA:

Bafilomycin A1

CQ:

Chloroquine

PCA:

p-Coumaric acid

SBI:

SBI0206965

α-MSH:

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone

UV:

Ultraviolet

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST) funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (20210310) and by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MIST) (2022R1A2C1091887).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bio-Health Convergence, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea

    Sohee Jang, Chang-Woo Ha, Sung-Hyeok Kim, Jung Hun Choi & Eun-Hwa Sohn

  2. College of Health Sciences, Kangwon National University, Samcheok, 25949, Republic of Korea

    Seung Namkoong, Sungsil Hong & Eun-Hwa Sohn

  3. Department of Crops and Forestry, Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jeonju, 54874, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Jung Koo

  4. Korea Research Institute of Bio Science Co., Ltd, Yeoju-Si, 12668, Republic of Korea

    Youn-Kyu Kim

  5. Infinisia Sumber Semesta Co., Ltd, Jakarta, 11840, Indonesia

    Mediana Hadiwidjaja

  6. Department of Convergence Biomedical Science, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan, 47392, Republic of Korea

    Sung Ryul Lee

  7. Truebelab Co., Ltd, Samcheok, 25913, Republic of Korea

    Eun-Hwa Sohn

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  1. Sohee Jang
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Contributions

SHJ, EHS, YKK, MH and SRL designed the experiments and wrote the manuscript. CWH, SHK, JHC and HJK performed the experiments and analyzed the data. SNK and SSH confirmed the authenticity of all the raw data. YKK, MH and SRL analyzed the data and revised the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sung Ryul Lee or Eun-Hwa Sohn.

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Conflict of interest

Sohee Jang, Chang-Woo Ha, Sung-Hyeok Kim, Jung Hun Choi, Seung Namkoong, Sungsil Hong, Hyun Jung Koo, Youn-Kyu Kim, Mediana Hadiwidjaja, Sung Ryul Lee, Eun-Hwa Sohn declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Jang, S., Ha, CW., Kim, SH. et al. Dual suppressive effect of p-coumaric acid on pigmentation in B16F10 cells. Mol. Cell. Toxicol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-024-00430-0

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