Assessment of cytotoxicity and sensitization potential of intradermally injected tattoo inks in reconstructed human skin

J.J.J.P. Karregat; T. Rustemeyer; S.A.S. van der Bent; S.W. Spiekstra; M. Thon; D. Fernandez Rivas; S. Gibbs

doi:10.1111/cod.13908

Assessment of cytotoxicity and sensitization potential of intradermally injected tattoo inks in reconstructed human skin

J.J.J.P. Karregat, T. Rustemeyer, S.A.S. van der Bent, S.W. Spiekstra, M. Thon, D. Fernandez Rivas, S. Gibbs

Oral Cell Biology

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

© 2021 The Authors. Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Background: The number of people within the European population having at least one tattoo has increased notably, and with it the number of tattoo-associated clinical complications. Despite this, safety information and testing regarding tattoo inks remain limited. Objective: To assess cytotoxicity and sensitization potential of 16 tattoo inks after intradermal injection into reconstructed human skin (RHS). Methods: Commercially available tattoo inks were injected intradermally into RHS (reconstructed epidermis on a fibroblast-populated collagen hydrogel) using a permanent makeup device. RHS biopsies, tissue sections, and culture medium were assessed for cytotoxicity (thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay [MTT assay]), detrimental histological changes (haematoxylin and eosin staining), and the presence of inflammatory and sensitization cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-8, IL-18; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results: Varying degrees of reduced metabolic activity and histopathological cytotoxic effects were observed in RHS after ink injection. Five inks showed significantly reduced metabolic activity and enhanced sensitization potential compared with negative controls. Discussion: Using the RHS model system, four tattoo inks were identified as highly cytotoxic and classified as potential sensitizers, suggesting that allergic contact dermatitis could emerge in individuals carrying these inks. These results indicate that an RHS-based assessment of cytotoxicity and sensitization potential by intradermal tattoo ink injection is a useful analytical tool to determine ink-induced deleterious effects.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	324-339
Journal	Contact Dermatitis
Volume	85
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.13908
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2021

Funding

We thank Elisabetta Michielon (Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) for technical assistance. D.F.R. acknowledges the funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 851630). We also acknowledge the support from the Dutch Research Council that financed the matchmaking event The Future Under Our Skin (NWA.1162.043), and material support of PERMANENT‐Line GmbH & Co. KG and MT.Derm GmbH. We thank Elisabetta Michielon (Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) for technical assistance. D.F.R. acknowledges the funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 851630). We also acknowledge the support from the Dutch Research Council that financed the matchmaking event The Future Under Our Skin (NWA.1162.043), and material support of PERMANENT-Line GmbH & Co. KG and MT.Derm GmbH.

Funders	Funder number
MT.Derm GmbH
PERMANENT-Line GmbH & Co
PERMANENT‐Line GmbH & Co
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
European Research Council
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	NWA.1162.043
Horizon 2020	851630

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title = "Assessment of cytotoxicity and sensitization potential of intradermally injected tattoo inks in reconstructed human skin",

abstract = "{\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors. Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Background: The number of people within the European population having at least one tattoo has increased notably, and with it the number of tattoo-associated clinical complications. Despite this, safety information and testing regarding tattoo inks remain limited. Objective: To assess cytotoxicity and sensitization potential of 16 tattoo inks after intradermal injection into reconstructed human skin (RHS). Methods: Commercially available tattoo inks were injected intradermally into RHS (reconstructed epidermis on a fibroblast-populated collagen hydrogel) using a permanent makeup device. RHS biopsies, tissue sections, and culture medium were assessed for cytotoxicity (thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay [MTT assay]), detrimental histological changes (haematoxylin and eosin staining), and the presence of inflammatory and sensitization cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-8, IL-18; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results: Varying degrees of reduced metabolic activity and histopathological cytotoxic effects were observed in RHS after ink injection. Five inks showed significantly reduced metabolic activity and enhanced sensitization potential compared with negative controls. Discussion: Using the RHS model system, four tattoo inks were identified as highly cytotoxic and classified as potential sensitizers, suggesting that allergic contact dermatitis could emerge in individuals carrying these inks. These results indicate that an RHS-based assessment of cytotoxicity and sensitization potential by intradermal tattoo ink injection is a useful analytical tool to determine ink-induced deleterious effects.",

author = "J.J.J.P. Karregat and T. Rustemeyer and {van der Bent}, S.A.S. and S.W. Spiekstra and M. Thon and {Fernandez Rivas}, D. and S. Gibbs",

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AU - Karregat, J.J.J.P.

AU - Rustemeyer, T.

AU - van der Bent, S.A.S.

AU - Spiekstra, S.W.

AU - Thon, M.

AU - Fernandez Rivas, D.

AU - Gibbs, S.

PY - 2021/9/1

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N2 - © 2021 The Authors. Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Background: The number of people within the European population having at least one tattoo has increased notably, and with it the number of tattoo-associated clinical complications. Despite this, safety information and testing regarding tattoo inks remain limited. Objective: To assess cytotoxicity and sensitization potential of 16 tattoo inks after intradermal injection into reconstructed human skin (RHS). Methods: Commercially available tattoo inks were injected intradermally into RHS (reconstructed epidermis on a fibroblast-populated collagen hydrogel) using a permanent makeup device. RHS biopsies, tissue sections, and culture medium were assessed for cytotoxicity (thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay [MTT assay]), detrimental histological changes (haematoxylin and eosin staining), and the presence of inflammatory and sensitization cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-8, IL-18; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results: Varying degrees of reduced metabolic activity and histopathological cytotoxic effects were observed in RHS after ink injection. Five inks showed significantly reduced metabolic activity and enhanced sensitization potential compared with negative controls. Discussion: Using the RHS model system, four tattoo inks were identified as highly cytotoxic and classified as potential sensitizers, suggesting that allergic contact dermatitis could emerge in individuals carrying these inks. These results indicate that an RHS-based assessment of cytotoxicity and sensitization potential by intradermal tattoo ink injection is a useful analytical tool to determine ink-induced deleterious effects.

AB - © 2021 The Authors. Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Background: The number of people within the European population having at least one tattoo has increased notably, and with it the number of tattoo-associated clinical complications. Despite this, safety information and testing regarding tattoo inks remain limited. Objective: To assess cytotoxicity and sensitization potential of 16 tattoo inks after intradermal injection into reconstructed human skin (RHS). Methods: Commercially available tattoo inks were injected intradermally into RHS (reconstructed epidermis on a fibroblast-populated collagen hydrogel) using a permanent makeup device. RHS biopsies, tissue sections, and culture medium were assessed for cytotoxicity (thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay [MTT assay]), detrimental histological changes (haematoxylin and eosin staining), and the presence of inflammatory and sensitization cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-8, IL-18; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results: Varying degrees of reduced metabolic activity and histopathological cytotoxic effects were observed in RHS after ink injection. Five inks showed significantly reduced metabolic activity and enhanced sensitization potential compared with negative controls. Discussion: Using the RHS model system, four tattoo inks were identified as highly cytotoxic and classified as potential sensitizers, suggesting that allergic contact dermatitis could emerge in individuals carrying these inks. These results indicate that an RHS-based assessment of cytotoxicity and sensitization potential by intradermal tattoo ink injection is a useful analytical tool to determine ink-induced deleterious effects.

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Assessment of cytotoxicity and sensitization potential of intradermally injected tattoo inks in reconstructed human skin

Abstract

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