Hypocrellin A-Mediated Photodynamic Antibacterial Activity Against Cutibacterium acnes: An In Vitro Study

Muqiu Zhang; Xinyao Liu; Xin Ran; Runyan Gao; Jitong Sun; Kaiwen Zhuang; Zimeng You; Zhi Zhang; Yuping Ran

doi:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2024.104467

Hypocrellin A-Mediated Photodynamic Antibacterial Activity Against Cutibacterium acnes: An In Vitro Study

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2025 Jan 9:104467. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2024.104467. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Muqiu Zhang¹, Xinyao Liu², Xin Ran¹, Runyan Gao¹, Jitong Sun¹, Kaiwen Zhuang¹, Zimeng You¹, Zhi Zhang¹, Yuping Ran³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
² Department of Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Laboratory of Pathogen Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
³ Department of Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39798778
DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2024.104467

Abstract

Skin dysbiosis caused by Cutibacterium acnes contributes greatly to the complex pathogenesis of acne, and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for acne treatment. Hypocrellin, a photosensitizer extracted from a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus, has showed effective antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial ability of hypocrellin mediated PDT against Cutibacterium acnes. Using modified broth dilution method and morphological observation, the antibacterial effects was tested under a series of experimental conditions. The results showed that hypocrellin initiates type II photodynamic reactions by inducing amount of reactive oxygen species, particularly singlet oxygen. Within a certain concentration range, hypocrellin effectively maintained the antibacterial efficacy with minimal damage to keratinocyte cells. These results provide new insights into the use of PDT for acne treatment.

Keywords: antibacterial; biological products; photodynamic therapy; photosensitizers.