A joint research team of Juntendo University and FANCL Corporation has revealed that preservatives and air pollutants can contribute to skin sensation abnormalities (skin conditions that are prone to tingling, tingling and itching).
The sensory abnormalities of the skin seen in atopic dermatitis and so-called "sensitive skin" are caused by an increase in the fibrous protrusions "sensory nerve fibers" possessed by sensory nerve cells that receive and transmit sensations such as pain and itching. It is considered to be one of the.Therefore, this team investigated the effects of external environments such as preservatives and air pollutants on sensory nerve fibers using "human iPS cell-derived sensory nerve cells" developed by FANCL.
First, human iPS cell-derived sensory neurons were cultured in a medium containing preservatives (methylparaben and phenoxyethanol) at concentrations predicted to remain unmetabolized in the skin, compared to when no preservatives were added. Sensory nerve fibers increased 1.8-fold and 2.1-fold, respectively.This suggests that although preservatives do not always cause paresthesia of the skin immediately, they may increase the risk of developing paresthesia by increasing sensory nerve fibers over healthy skin conditions.
Next, when human iPS cell-derived sensory neurons were cultured in a medium containing an air pollutant (benzopyrene) at a concentration that could reach the skin, bead-like degeneration of sensory nerve fibers was 2.7 times more frequent. occured.Furthermore, in order to investigate the effects of active oxygen generated in the body due to such external environment, aging, stress, etc., the results of culturing in a medium containing hydrogen peroxide showed that the frequency of bead-like denaturation was 4.7 times.Skin exposed to air pollutants or skin with increased active oxygen in the deep part of the skin may damage sensory nerve fibers and increase the risk of developing paresthesia.
The results of this study, which found that such external chemical substances cause increase and degeneration of sensory nerves, will be useful for elucidating the causes of the occurrence and deterioration of sensory abnormalities in the skin and for preventing and improving abnormal sensations in the future. It is expected to lead to the development of drugs and cosmetics.