Antioxidants Inhibit Subsequent Lipid Production via Sebaceous Gland Cell Differentiation

Abstract

Objective: The effects of sebum lipid production by sebaceous gland cells were investigated in vitro following inhibition of cell differentiation by the antioxidants (ascorbyl/tocopheryl) phosphoric acid, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine cyclic phosphate. Methods: Normal hamster sebaceous gland cells were exposed to various concentrations of the antioxidants for 10 days. Lipids were extracted from the cells and quantitated by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Numbers of lipid-containing differentiated cells were determined by light microscopy. The superoxide anion scavenging ability of each antioxidant was measured by the nitro blue tetrazolium method. Results: All antioxidants suppressed sebocyte cell differentiation and decreased levels of sebum lipid secretion, with (ascorbyl/tocopheryl) phosphoric acid being the most effective. Antioxidant ability, the number of differentiated sebocyte cells, and sebum secretion level were found to highly correlate. Conclusion: These findings indicate that antioxidant compounds inhibit sebaceous lipid production by suppressing differentiation of sebocytes.