USE OF ECTOIN OR ECTOIN DERIVATIVES FOR THE PROPHYLAXIS AND/OR TREATMENT OF UV-INDUCED IMMUNOSUPPRESSION

Use of ectoine compounds (I) for the protection of stress proteins in the skin is new. The use of ectoine compounds (I) of formula (IA) or (IB) or its salts and stereoisomers, for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of UV-induced immunosuppression. [Image] R1H or A; R2H, COOH, COOA or CONHR5; R3, R4H or OH; n : 1-3; R5H, aminoacid residue or di- or tripeptide residue; and A : 1-4C alkyl. - ACTIVITY : Dermatological; immunostimulant. - MECHANISM OF ACTION : Protection of Langerhans cells in the skin. In particular (I) maintain the dendritic morphology and antigen presenting ability of the Langerhans cells. When an oil-in-water cream comprising 1.0 wt.% ectoine (Ia) was applied to the skin of human subjects at 2 mg/cm2> twice daily for 14 days before UV irradiation, the number of Langerhans cells (per mm2>) remaining after the irradiation was 78.1% of the initial value, compared with 58% for non-pretreated skin and 64% for skin pretreated with (I)-free control cream.