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Mass spectrometry imaging reveals uptake of the allergen methylisothiazolinone in ex vivo human skin

Clancy, Aoife ; Munem, Marwa ; Lööf, Caroline ; Hagvall, Lina LU ; M. O'Boyle, Niamh and Malmberg, Per (2025) In Microchemical Journal 219.
Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin condition triggered by allergens such as 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MI), a common preservative. The incidence of contact allergy to MI has fallen in Europe in recent years, attributable to government regulation limiting concentrations of MI I; however, incidence continues to rise in the USA. The pattern and extent of distribution of MI in skin is unknown and a better understanding of the effect of MI on the skin is needed. In this study NativeSkin Access® human skin biopsies were treated with MI, and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analysis was performed to map the distribution of MI and assess changes in endogenous lipids. MI penetrates the... (More)

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin condition triggered by allergens such as 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MI), a common preservative. The incidence of contact allergy to MI has fallen in Europe in recent years, attributable to government regulation limiting concentrations of MI I; however, incidence continues to rise in the USA. The pattern and extent of distribution of MI in skin is unknown and a better understanding of the effect of MI on the skin is needed. In this study NativeSkin Access® human skin biopsies were treated with MI, and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analysis was performed to map the distribution of MI and assess changes in endogenous lipids. MI penetrates the stratum corneum and viable epidermis, with significant lipid alterations observed in the stratum corneum. The use of Argon gas cluster ion beam (Ar-GCIB) sputtering in the ToF-SIMS analysis improved the resolution and clarity of cellular structures, allowing for better visualization of MI penetration and its effects on skin lipids. The study highlights the utility of ToF-SIMS in combination with Argon gas cluster sputtering in visualizing allergen distribution and its impact on skin lipid composition, providing insights into the mechanisms of skin sensitization.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MI), Contact allergy, Skin allergy, Skin lipids, ToF-SIMS
in
Microchemical Journal
volume
219
article number
116162
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105021225161
ISSN
0026-265X
DOI
10.1016/j.microc.2025.116162
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6046264d-1998-4845-8ea7-661011fe3767
date added to LUP
2025-12-08 14:53:06
date last changed
2025-12-08 14:53:47
@article{6046264d-1998-4845-8ea7-661011fe3767,
  abstract     = {{<p>Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin condition triggered by allergens such as 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MI), a common preservative. The incidence of contact allergy to MI has fallen in Europe in recent years, attributable to government regulation limiting concentrations of MI I; however, incidence continues to rise in the USA. The pattern and extent of distribution of MI in skin is unknown and a better understanding of the effect of MI on the skin is needed. In this study NativeSkin Access® human skin biopsies were treated with MI, and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analysis was performed to map the distribution of MI and assess changes in endogenous lipids. MI penetrates the stratum corneum and viable epidermis, with significant lipid alterations observed in the stratum corneum. The use of Argon gas cluster ion beam (Ar-GCIB) sputtering in the ToF-SIMS analysis improved the resolution and clarity of cellular structures, allowing for better visualization of MI penetration and its effects on skin lipids. The study highlights the utility of ToF-SIMS in combination with Argon gas cluster sputtering in visualizing allergen distribution and its impact on skin lipid composition, providing insights into the mechanisms of skin sensitization.</p>}},
  author       = {{Clancy, Aoife and Munem, Marwa and Lööf, Caroline and Hagvall, Lina and M. O'Boyle, Niamh and Malmberg, Per}},
  issn         = {{0026-265X}},
  keywords     = {{2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MI); Contact allergy; Skin allergy; Skin lipids; ToF-SIMS}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Microchemical Journal}},
  title        = {{Mass spectrometry imaging reveals uptake of the allergen methylisothiazolinone in ex vivo human skin}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2025.116162}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.microc.2025.116162}},
  volume       = {{219}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}