Disruption of functions of primary human neonatal melanocytes cultured in the presence of bisphenol A and its analogs bisphenol F and bisphenol S

Bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS) are contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) that humans are exposed to. In silico and zebrafish studies have linked BPA, BPF, and BPS exposure to pigmentation abnormalities, but no studies have examined their impact on primary human melanocytes. Herein, we examined the effects of BPA, BPF, and BPS exposure using human epidermal neonatal melanocytes. BPA induced the greatest cytotoxicity, followed by BPS, whereas BPF did not affect viability. BPA did not alter cellular melanin, whereas BPF and BPS diminished it at 100 µM. BPA decreased dendricity, as did BPF and BPS, although BPF was a potent suppressor of dendricity than BPS. BPA inhibited tyrosinase activity, followed by BPF, while BPS weakly suppressed tyrosinase activity. The tyrosinase activity was mostly recovered after the cessation of bisphenol treatments, although it remained lower for BPA and BPF. All bisphenols elevated cellular ROS production, although BPA and BPS showed non-monotonic dose responses. BPA and BPS augmented IL-6 cytokine secretion in melanocyte cultures treated with lipopolysaccharide, but BPF did not, suggesting that they exacerbate melanocyte inflammation. Collectively, these findings indicate BPA, BPF, and BPS, may impair melanocyte function and pose health hazards, warranting more study.