Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40088110›Full record

ArticleContact dermatitis2025

Exploring the Activation of the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE Pathway by PAHs in Children's Toys.

Jonas Lauenstein, Simon van de Weyer, Rasha Alsaleh, Christoph Wiedmer, Andrea Buettner, Christian Kersch, Simone Schmitz-Spanke

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Contact dermatitis, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jonas LauensteinInstitute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8708-888X
Simon van de WeyerInstitute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Rasha AlsalehInstitute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Christoph WiedmerDepartment 1-Agriculture, Ecotrophology and Landscape Development, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany.
Andrea BuettnerChair of Aroma and Smell Research, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Christian KerschInstitute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Simone Schmitz-SpankeInstitute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0416-8236

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildren are particularly susceptible to environmental pollutants. This study assessed the skin sensitisation risk associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), prevalent in toys.

objectivesTo evaluate the skin sensitisation potential of PAHs using the KeratinoSens assay.

methodsIndividual PAHs (acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), benzo[b]fluoranthene (B[b]F), benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, benzo[k]fluoranthene (B[k]F), chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and triphenylene) and ternary mixtures containing B[a]P were assessed for their ability to activate the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway in human keratinocytes. The concentration addition model and additive index were used to predict and analyse mixture effects.

resultsAmong the individual PAHs, B[k]F demonstrated the most potent activation of the pathway, exhibiting a 34-fold higher potency relative to B[a]P. B[b]F, chrysene and B[a]P also exhibited significant activation, while the remaining PAHs displayed negligible or weak activation. Notably, PAH mixtures exhibited synergistic effects, except for those composed solely of potent sensitizers.

conclusionsThis study provides the first assessment of the skin sensitization potential of these PAHs. The findings suggest that B[k]F, B[b]F and chrysene may pose a higher risk of skin sensitisation than previously thought. Additionally, the synergistic effects observed in mixtures highlight the importance of considering combined exposures when assessing PAH exposure risk.

Indexed as

Dermatitis, Allergic ContactKelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1NF-E2-Related Factor 2Polycyclic Aromatic HydrocarbonsBenzo(a)pyreneChildHumansKeratinocytesSignal TransductionBenzo(a)pyreneKEAP1 protein, humanKelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1NFE2L2 protein, humanNF-E2-Related Factor 2Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbonsconsumer goodsKeap1‐Nrf2‐ARE pathwayKeratinoSens assaymixturespolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsproduct safetyrisk assessmentskin sensitizationsynergistic effects

Identifiers

PMID40088110
PMCPMC12134455

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.