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Shiseido is the first in the world to discover that OBP2A present in the nose is expressed in human skin and protects the skin from low molecules such as odors

~ With white lily flower extract from France, for healthy and beautiful skin even in modern society where environmental changes are drastic ~

As a new mechanism for maintaining skin health and beauty, Shiseido discovered for the first time in the world that the odor-binding protein OBP2A*1 contributes to maintaining homeostasis in the human epidermis and plays a part in the epidermal barrier (Figure 1). The odor-binding protein OBP2A, which is present inside the human nose, is known to have the function of filtering stress molecules that damage cells. In this study, we have elucidated that OBP2A is also expressed in the epidermis. In addition, an ingredient “French white lily flower extract,” which enhances the expression of OBP2A, has also been found. In the future, we aim to utilize the results of this research to provide solutions that lead to healthy and beautiful skin even in modern society where environmental changes are drastic.
*1 Odorant binding protein 2A

Figure 1 OBP2A is also expressed in the epidermis and maintains normal skin differentiation by filtering stress molecules that damage the skin

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Research Overview

This time, skin immunostaining was performed, and it was revealed that OBP2A also exists within the epidermis (Fig. 2).
Furthermore, it was found that when the odorant component nonenal*2 (external stress molecule) in the environment and oleic acid and palmitoleic acid (internal stress molecules), which are components contained in sebum and sweat, are given to epidermal cells with reduced OBP2A, their protective ability against stress molecules decreases, and cell viability decreases (Fig. 3). Furthermore, it was found that in the epidermal model with reduced OBP2A, the thickness of the epidermis becomes thinner, secretion of lamellar granules, which are moisturizing components of the skin, decreases, and the amount of water evaporation increases, and the epidermal barrier function decreases.
Additionally, we also searched for ingredients that have the effect of increasing the amount of OBP2A expressed, and discovered that “French white lily flower extract” extracted from Madonna Lily flowers, which is a type of lily, has the effect of increasing the expression of OBP2A in the epidermis, increases epidermal thickness, reduces the amount of water transpiration, and enhances the epidermal barrier function.
Shiseido is conducting research on substances that stimulate the five senses and the skin's ability to recognize them by itself. By elucidating the natural power of the skin and enhancing its function, we aim to achieve healthy and beautiful skin that is unwavering in any environment. Some of the results of this research were selected for oral presentation at the “Gordon Research Conference” *3 (2023/8/6-8/11), an international research meeting with history and authority in the field of science.
*2 The main component of unique scents (age-related odors) that occur with aging. Shiseido has discovered that nonenal also causes damage to the skin.
Shiseido discovers that nonenal causes skin damage for the first time in the world (2021) https://corp.shiseido.com/jp/news/detail.html?n=00000000003114
*3 An international scientific conference held by a non-profit organization of the same name since 1931

Figure 2: OBP2A (red part) is also expressed in the epidermis

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Figure 3 Cell viability decreases when stress molecules are added to epidermal cells that are low in OBP2A

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About R&D strategies

Under “Skin Beauty INNOVATION,” which is one of the three pillars of the R&D strategy, this research applied the skin basic research area, which clarifies the relationship between the internal state of the skin and the skin, and proceeded to clarify the high-level functions that the skin has, which can be called intelligence.
・2023 Integrated Report (Beauty Innovation)
https://corp.shiseido.com/report/jp/2023/message/cmio/
・Keywords
Skin Beauty Innovation, Skin Foundation, OBP2A, Epidermis

*Please note that the information described in this release is current at the time of publication and may differ from the latest information.