MicroRNA expression profiling of p-phenylenediamine treatment in human keratinocyte cell line

p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), a black dye used in hair coloring and tattoos, irritates the skin, leading to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well known regulators of these side effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate PPD-induced miRNA expression profile alterations in human keratinocytes. First, we demonstrated that PPD reduced HaCaT cell viability by inducing cell cycle arrest and death, elevating cellular ROS levels and decreasing the migration rate. In addition, 67 miRNAs were upregulated by at least 5-fold in PPD-treated HaCaT cell and 17 miRNAs were downregulated by at least 5-fold in PPD-treated HaCaT cell. Using bioinformatics, we identified a relationship between PPD-mediated miRNA changes and cell death, cell cycle arrest, generation of ROS, and migration repression. Target genes of PPD-regulated miRNAs were involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, skin development, and aging. Thus, our results establish a role for miRNAs in regulating PPD-induced cell death, cell cycle arrest, ROS generation, and repression of migration in human keratinocytes.