AHAs and derivatives: an in vitro study of their effect on cell proliferation and morphology.

An in vitro study of their effect on cell proliferation and morphology

This study reports on a biological model based on cutaneous fibroblasts cultured in the presence of glycolic acid, lactic acid and their derivatives obtained by reaction with some amino acids and AHAs. During culturing, cells are a highly sensitive indicator of biotolerance, by which we mean a compound's absence of side effects, such as irritation or burning or stinging, on the skin.[8] Although fibroblasts, essential components of the skin, are not directly involved when the skin is treated with the substances mentioned, they may still be affected and change their action in the derma. The solutions were used at different concentrations, pH levels and times of incubation, in order to ascertain their influence on cell proliferation.

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Methods and Materials

Materials: Table 1-1 identifies the glycolic acid, lactic acid and their derivatives used in this study. Concentrations tested for each AHA were 1.2 mM and 4.6 mM per 100 g of culture medium.

Cell culture: We obtained human skin fibroblasts from a lower forearm biopsy of a healthy 20-year-old donor. The cells were at the first culture passage in a logarithmic growth phase. The fibroblasts were grown at 37 [degrees] C in humidified air with 5% C[O.sub.2], in 25 m[m.sup.2] flasks containing Iscove's modified Dulbecco medium(a) supplemented with 0.2% sodium bicarbonate, 10% fetal calf serum,(b) 200 U/ml penicillin and 200 [[micro]gram]/ml streptomycin. Fibroblasts were …