Chloroform induces cystein-rich 61, a mediator of collagen homeostasis via early growth response-1 dependent pathway in human skin dermal fibroblasts

Taeumjowi-tang, a Traditional Korean Sasang Remedy, Improves Obesity-Atopic Dermatitis Comorbidity by Regulating Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 Alpha

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory disease of the skin, resulting from an immune dysfunction, that often occurs as a comorbidity of obesity. This investigation evaluated the capacity of Taeumjowi-tang (TJT), a Korean herbal formulation from the Sasang medical tradition to influence prognostic features of AD and obesity in a mouse model. Here, obesity and AD were induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB). Following an 8-week HFD regimen and 4 weeks of DNFB administration, the comorbid (CO) group manifested increased body weight and AD-like lesions, as compared to normal control (NC) mice, while TJT administration diminished these symptoms of obesity and AD. Specifically, TJT treatment reduced epidermal thickness and eosinophil/mast cell infiltration, along with reduction in immunoglobulin E, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). It was additionally demonstrated that TJT suppresses HFD/DNFB-associated increase of the inflammation-related nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB) and mitogen activated protein kinase. Moreover, significantly increased levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) protein was observed in CO group versus controls, an increase significantly down-regulated by TJT-treatment. These outcomes suggest that TJT may prove useful in clinical management of obesity-AD comorbidity treatment, an effect that may be due to regulation of HIF-1α expression.

The ameliorative effect of hemp seed hexane extracts on the Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammation and lipogenesis in sebocytes

In this study, we investigated the anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-lipogenic effects of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed hexane extracts, focusing on the Propionibacterium acnes-triggered inflammation and lipogenesis. Hemp seed hexane extracts (HSHE) showed anti-microbial activity against P. acnes. The expression of iNOS, COX-2, and the subsequent production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin increased after infection of P. acnes in HaCaT cells, however, upon treating with HSHE, their expressions were reduced. P. acnes-induced expressions of IL-1β and IL-8 were also reduced. HSHE exerted anti-inflammatory effects by regulating NF-κB and MAPKs signaling and blunting the translocation of p-NF-κB to the nucleus in P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT cells. Moreover, P. acnes-induced phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, and their downstream targets c-Fos and c-Jun, was also inhibited by HSHE. In addition, the transactivation of AP-1 induced by P. acnes infection was also downregulated by HSHE. Notably, HSHE regulated inflammation and lipid biosynthesis via regulating AMPK and AKT/FoxO1 signaling in IGF-1-induced inflammation and lipogenesis of sebocytes. In addition, HSHE inhibited 5-lipoxygenase level and P. acnes-induced MMP-9 activity, and promoted collagen biosynthesis in vitro. Thus, HSHE could be utilized to treat acne vulgaris, through its anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-lipogenic, and collagen-promoting properties.

Antiwrinkle and antimelanogenesis activity of the ethanol extracts of Lespedeza cuneata G. Don for development of the cosmeceutical ingredients

To develop the ingredient with the cosmeceutical function, the antiwrinkle and antimelanogenesis effects of the ethanol extract of Lespedeza cuneata G. Don were investigated. DPPH radical scavenging activity was significantly increased with the extract of L. cuneata G. Don. Cell viability on CCD986Sk human fibroblast was also increased by the ethanol extract of L. cuneata G. Don. The inhibitory function of the extract of L. cuneata G. Don on collagenase, elastase, and tyrosinase was evaluated. Protein expression level of Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1 was up-regulated in HaCaT human keratinocyte by the extract of L. cuneata G. Don. In addition, the extract of L. cuneata G. Don inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F10 murine melanoma cells by decreasing MITF, TRP1, and TRP2 protein levels and increasing the phosphorylated Erk and Akt. Thus, these findings would be useful for developing the new cosmeceutical formulations based on the extract of L. cuneata G. Don.

Inhibition of collagenase and melanogenesis by ethanol extracts of Orostachys japonicus A. Berger: possible involvement of Erk and Akt signaling pathways in melanoma cells

Orostachys japonicus is an herb that contains several functional components and has traditionally been used to treat various diseases in Asia. In this study, bioactive components from different parts of the O. japonicus plant were investigated, and the contents of the functional components in ethanol extracts of O. japonicus cultivated in Korea and China were compared. The antioxidant effects of O. japonicus ethanol extracts were investigated using Raw 264.7 cells. It was found that 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity was significantly decreased in the cells treated with the extracts. Moreover, the novel inhibitory functions of O. japonicus extracts on collagenase, elastase, and tyrosinase were established. We also found that O. japonicus extracts strongly inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells by decreasing MITF protein levels and activating the Erk and Akt signaling pathways. Thus, these findings would be useful for developing new cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations based on O. japonicus extracts.

Chlorin e6-mediated photodynamic therapy promotes collagen production and suppresses MMPs expression via modulating AP-1 signaling in P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT cells

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved therapeutic for cancers and non-neoplastic diseases, based on the use of a photosensitizer activated by light. The feasibility of PDT depends on several factors, such as PDT dose, photosensitizer efficacy, type of light source, and target tissue irradiated.

METHODS

In this study, the second generation photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) and halogen light were used to investigate their PDT effect on the collagen production and MMPs expression of heat killed P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT cells. The mRNA levels of COL1A1, c-Jun, and c-Fos were detected by RT-PCR. The protein levels of MMPs, ERK and JNK were detected by western blot. The transactivation of AP-1 was detected by luciferase assay.

RESULTS

Ce6-based PDT markedly upregulated the mRNA level of COL1A1 and type I procollagen level; and at the same time downregulated the expression of MMPs in P. acnes-infected HaCaT cells. Moreover, Ce6-mediated PDT, in a dose dependent manner, inhibited P. acnes-induced phosphorylation of JNK and ERK, as wells as the phosphorylation of their downstream targets c-Jun and c-Fos. P. acnes-induced mRNA expression of c-Jun and c-Fos were also suppressed by Ce6-mediated PDT. The transactivation of AP-1 induced by P. acnes infection was also downregulated.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that Ce6-mediated PDT with halogen light enhanced collagen production, but inhibited the expression of MMPs in P. acnes-infected HaCaT cells, by regulating AP-1 signals. This investigation provided the first molecular basis for the increase in collagen production by Ce6-mediated PDT, suggesting its potential use for scar amelioration and skin rejuvenation in acne treatment.