The assessment of the phototoxic potential of drugs forming complexes with melanin - Screening in vitro studies using normal skin cells with varying pigmentation irradiated by a sunlight simulator

Phototoxic reactions are among the most common skin-related adverse effects induced by drugs. It is believed that the binding of chemicals to melanin biopolymers is a significant factor influencing skin toxicity. The formation of drug-melanin complexes can lead to the accumulation of drugs or their photodegradation products in pigmented cells, potentially affecting phototoxic reactions. Current procedures for assessing the phototoxic potential of drugs are based on tests using immortalized mouse fibroblasts.

This study aimed to assess the phototoxic potential of selected drugs that form complexes with melanin (chloroquine, chlorpromazine, doxycycline) using human melanocytes with varying degrees of pigmentation. Parallel research was conducted on human dermal fibroblasts. To induce phototoxicity, cell cultures were irradiated using a sunlight simulator (5 J/cm² for UVA spectrum). To account for the process of drug accumulation, two experimental models with different incubation times of cells with drugs before irradiation were used. The photo-irritation factor (PIF) was calculated based on NRU and WST-1 screening tests. Additionally, cell viability was examined cytometrically, and analyses of the cell cycle and reduced glutathione levels were conducted.

The results indicated that drugs binding with melanin exhibited different levels of cytotoxicity and phototoxicity towards fibroblasts and melanocytes. These observed differences impact the values of PIF, potentially complicating the interpretation of the studies. Additional analyses, such as examining cell subpopulations in the sub-G1 phase and determining the level of reduced glutathione, can enhance the assessment of the phototoxicity of drugs on pigmented cells.