Taurin-conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid has a reversible inhibitory effect on human keratinocyte growth

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDC) is one of the most hydrophilic taurin conjugated bile acids. TUDC has a suppressive effect on DNA synthesis in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. In this study, we investigated the growth inhibitory effect of TUDC on cultured human keratinocytes. TUDC suppressed the proliferation of keratinocytes in a dose dependent fashion, as measured by both cell counts and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake. Keratinocytes reproliferated and reached almost the same cell number as control after removal of TUDC from the medium. TUDC (1 mM) had no effect on the cell viability, as measured by the dye exclusion test. Epidermal sheets stratified in the presence of TUDC appeared thinner than those stratified without TUDC. These results suggest that TUDC has a reversible growth suppressive effect on human keratinocytes through the mechanism other than cytotoxicity and would be applicable for the treatment of hyperproliferative skin disorders such as psoriasis.