Vitamin C Derivative Ascorbyl Palmitate Promotes Ultraviolet-B-Induced Lipid Peroxidation and Cytotoxicity in Keratinocytes

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 119; no. 5; pp. 1103 - 1108
• Main Authors: Meves, Alexander, Stock, Sibylle N., Beyerle, Astrid, Pittelkow, Mark R., Peus, Dominik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Danvers, MA Elsevier Inc 01.11.2002; Nature Publishing; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Ascorbic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Keratinocytes - cytology; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Lipid Metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lipid Peroxidation - radiation effects; MAP Kinase Signaling System - drug effects; MAP Kinase Signaling System - radiation effects; Medical sciences; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 - metabolism; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; signaling; skin; Ultraviolet Rays; skin; signaling; antioxidants; reactive oxygen species; Human; Cell culture; Ascorbic acid; UVB radiation; Vitamin; Cytotoxicity; Keratinocyte; Lipids; Antioxidant; Peroxidation; antioxidants/reactive oxygen species/signaling/skin
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.19521.x

Among the preventative and protective strategies against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation to the skin is the application of antioxidants. Ascorbic acid has been shown to protect against sunburn, delay the onset of skin tumors, and reduce ultraviolet-B-radiation-induced skin wrinkling. In this work, we sought to determine the antioxidative properties of a lipid-soluble derivative of ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid-6-palmitate. We found that ascorbic acid-6-palmitate reduced cellular levels of reactive oxygen species following ultraviolet B irradiation. Treatment of keratinocytes with ascorbic acid-6-palmitate inhibited ultraviolet-B-mediated activation of epidermal growth factor receptor, extracellular regulated kinases 1 and 2, and p38 kinase because of its ability to prevent reduced glutathione depletion and scavenge hydrogen peroxide. Ascorbic acid-6-palmitate strongly promoted ultraviolet-B-induced lipid peroxidation, c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation, and cytotoxicity, however. End products of lipid peroxidation, such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, have been reported to mediate stress-activated protein kinase activation and cell toxicity in epithelial cells. The lipid component of ascorbic acid-6-palmitate probably contributes to the generation of oxidized lipid metabolites that are toxic to epidermal cells. Our data suggest that, despite its antioxidant properties, ascorbic acid-6-palmitate may intensify skin damage following physiologic doses of ultraviolet radiation.