Interaction between ciprofloxacin and melanin: the effect on proliferation and melanization in melanocytes

Artur Beberok1, Ewa Buszman, Dorota Wrześniok

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 4, PL 41–200 Sosnowiec, Poland.

Insights

Ciprofloxacin binds to melanin, impacting melanocyte viability and reducing melanin production. This interaction may explain ciprofloxacin

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Serious adverse events linked to ciprofloxacin in pigmented tissues.
  • Fluoroquinolones' affinity for melanin-rich tissues is known but not fully linked to toxicity.
  • The relationship between melanin binding and skin/eye toxicity requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if ciprofloxacin binds to melanin.
  • To investigate how this interaction affects melanocyte proliferation and melanization.
  • To explore the potential role of melanin in ciprofloxacin's toxic effects.

Main Methods:

  • Studied the binding of ciprofloxacin to melanin.
  • Assessed the effect of ciprofloxacin on melanocyte viability and proliferation.
  • Measured melanin content and tyrosinase activity in human skin melanocytes.

Main Results:

  • Ciprofloxacin forms complexes with melanin at two distinct binding sites (K(1)~10(5) M(-1), K(2)~10(2) M(-1)).
  • Ciprofloxacin induced concentration-dependent loss in melanocyte viability (ED(50)~0.5 mM).
  • Ciprofloxacin reduced melanin content and tyrosinase activity in human skin melanocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Ciprofloxacin interacts with melanin.
  • This interaction inhibits melanization and reduces melanocyte viability.
  • Melanin may play a role in the in vivo toxicity mechanisms of ciprofloxacin.