IngentaConnect Lack of evidence for allergenic properties of coumarin in a fragr...

Authors: Vocanson, Marc; Valeyrie, Magalie¹; Rozières, Aurore; Hennino, Anca; Floc'h, François²; Gard, Arielle²; Nicolas, Jean-François

Source: Contact Dermatitis, Volume 57, Number 6, December 2007 , pp. 361-364(4)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

Abstract:

Background:

There is controversy as to whether coumarin, an ingredient in cosmetics and fragrances, is a contact allergen involved in fragrance allergy. We recently showed that the purity of coumarin is a critical parameter for its allergenicity because coumarin preparations containing trace amounts of contaminants induced cell proliferation in the local lymph node (LN) assay whereas pure coumarin did not. Objective/Method:

In the present study, we analyzed the sensitizing properties of coumarin (purity > 99.9) and of dihydrocoumarin (DHC), in a recently developed model of fragrance allergy in mice. Results:

DHC was able to prime T cells in LNs draining the sensitization skin site and to induce a typical allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) reaction upon challenge, confirming that DHC is endowed with moderate sensitizing properties. In contrast, no T-cell activation and no ACD responses were obtained following sensitization and challenge with coumarin. Conclsuion:

These results confirm that pure coumarin is endowed with very weak sensitizing capacities, if any, and suggest that the presence of contaminants in coumarin preparations may account for the previously reported allergenic properties of coumarin.

Keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; coumarin; fragrance allergy; mouse ear-swelling test; murine model; T cell priming

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2007.01276.x

Affiliations: 1: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U851, IFR 128, BioSciences Lyon-Gerland, Lyon F-69365 2: Rhodia Organique, Lyon F-69457

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Lack of evidence for allergenic properties of coumarin in a fragrance allergy mouse model