β- Endorphin enhances the phospholipase activity of the dandruff causing fungi Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta

beta-Endorphin is known to stimulate phospholipase production by Malassezia pachydermatis during canine dermatoses. The role of beta-endorphin in Malassezia infection in humans is not well studied. The present study compares the influence of beta-endorphin on Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta isolated from patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis/ dandruff (SD/D) and healthy controls. Malassezia isolates (five each of the two species from patients and healthy controls) were grown on modified Dixon's agar with or without 100 nmol/L beta-endorphin. Phospholipase activity was quantified based on its ability to hydrolyze L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine dimyristoyl (phospholipid substrate). Free fatty acid was measured by a colorimetry method. In isolates from patients, the phospholipase activity significantly increased after exposure to beta-endorphin (M. globosa, P =.04; M. restricta, P =.001), which did not occur in isolates from healthy controls. Moreover, after beta-endorphin exposure the patient isolates had significantly higher (P =.0004) phospholipase activity compared to the healthy control isolates. The results suggest that isolates of M. globosa and M. restricta from patients may differ from those of healthy humans.