Topical application of a novel, water-soluble gamma-tocopherol derivative prevents UV-induced skin damage in mice.

We investigated whether the topical application of a novel, water-soluble gamma-tocopherol (gamma-Toc) derivative, gamma-tocopherol-N,N-dimethylglycinate hydrochloride (gamma-TDMG), could protect against UV-induced skin damage in hairless mice. Topical pre- or post-application of a 5% (93 mM) gamma-TDMG solution in water/propylene glycol/ethanol (2:1:2) significantly prevented sunburn cell formation, lipid peroxidation and edema/inflammation that were induced by exposure to a single dose of UV irradiation of 5 kJ/m2 (290-380 nm, maximum 312 nm). This effect was greater than that seen with two alpha-Toc derivatives, alpha-tocopherol acetate (alpha-TA) and alpha-tocopherol-N,N-dimethylglycinate (alpha-TDMG). When a 5% solution of gamma-TDMG was applied to mouse skin for 1 h, cutaneous gamma-Toc increased by 25-fold after 24 h; levels of cutaneous alpha-Toc increased by only two- and eight-fold in alpha-TDMG and alpha-TA treated skins, respectively. These findings indicated that gamma-TDMG immediately converted to gamma-Toc in the skin and suggest that ability of gamma-TDMG to protect the skin from the damaging effects of irradiation was due to its conversion to gamma-Toc. When a 5% solution of gamma-Toc was applied to mouse skin for 1 h, cutaneous gamma-Toc rapidly increased by 25-fold, but fell to baseline levels by 24 h. In contrast, the concentration of gamma-Toc in skin that was treated with gamma-TDMG similarly increased, but these high levels were maintained after 24 h. These results suggest that gamma-TDMG may be a more effective source of gamma-Toc in skin. Thus, the topical application of gamma-TDMG may be efficacious for the prevention of UV-B-induced skin damage.