Disaccharide analysis of the skin glycosaminoglycans in chronically ultraviolet light-irradiated hairless mice

The Attenuated Secretion of Hyaluronan by UVA-Exposed Human Fibroblasts Is Associated with Up- and Downregulation of HYBID and HAS2 Expression via Activated and Inactivated Signaling of the p38/ATF2 and JAK2/STAT3 Cascades

Little is known about the effects on hyaluronan (HA) metabolism of UVA radiation. This study demonstrates that the secretion of HA by human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) is downregulated by UVA, accompanied by the down- and upregulation of mRNA and protein levels of the HA-synthesizing enzyme (HAS2) and the HA-degrading protein, HYaluronan Binding protein Involved in HA Depolymerization(HYBID), respectively. Signaling analysis revealed that the exposure distinctly elicits activation of the p38/MSK1/CREB/c-Fos/AP-1 axis, the JNK/c-Jun axis, and the p38/ATF-2 axis, but downregulates the phosphorylation of NF-kB and JAK/STAT3. A signal inhibition study demonstrated that the inhibition of p38 significantly abrogates the UVA-accentuated mRNA level of HYBID. Furthermore, the inhibition of STAT3 significantly downregulates the level of HAS2 mRNA in non-UVA exposed HDFs. Analysis using siRNAs demonstrated that transfection of ATF-2 siRNA but not c-Fos siRNA abrogates the increased protein level of HYBID in UVA-exposed HDFs. An inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase but not of protein serine/threonine phosphatase restored the diminished phosphorylation level of STAT3 at Tyr 705, accompanied by a significant abolishing effect on the decreased mRNA expression level of HAS2. Silencing with a protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP-Meg2 siRNA revealed that it abrogates the decreased phosphorylation of STAT3 at Tyr 705 in UVA-exposed HDFs. These findings suggest that the UVA-induced decrease in HA secretion by HDFs is attributable to the down- and upregulation of HAS2 and HYBID expression, respectively, changes that are mainly ascribed to the inactivated signaling of the STAT3 axis due to the activated tyrosine protein phosphatase PTP-Meg2 and the activated signaling of the p38/ATF2 axis, respectively.

Mycosporine-like amino acids stimulate hyaluronan secretion by up-regulating hyaluronan synthase 2 via activation of the p38/MSK1/CREB/c-Fos/AP-1 axis

Hyaluronan (HA) is an extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan that critically supports the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the skin. Here, we demonstrate that mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), which typically function as UV-absorbing compounds, can stimulate HA secretion from normal human fibroblasts. MAA-stimulated HA secretion was associated with significantly increased and decreased levels of mRNAs encoding HA synthase 2 (HAS2) and the HA-binding protein involved in HA depolymerization (designated HYBID), respectively. Using immunoblotting, we found that MAAs at 10 and at 25 μg/ml stimulate the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/c-Jun, and mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1) (at Thr-581, Ser-360, and Ser-376, respectively) and activation of cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) and activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2), but not phosphorylation of JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) or NF-κB (at Ser-276 or Ser-536, respectively), and increased c-Fos protein levels. Moreover, a p38-specific inhibitor, but not inhibitors of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK), JNK, or NF-κB, significantly abrogated the increased expression of HAS2 mRNA, accompanied by significantly decreased MAA-stimulated HA secretion. These results suggested that the p38-MSK1-CREB-c-Fos-transcription factor AP-1 (AP-1) or the p38-ATF2 signaling cascade is responsible for the MAA-induced stimulation of HAS2 gene expression. Of note, siRNA-mediated ATF2 silencing failed to abrogate MAA-stimulated HAS2 expression, and c-Fos silencing abolished the increased expression of HAS2 mRNA. Our findings suggest that MAAs stimulate HA secretion by up-regulating HAS2 mRNA levels through activation of an intracellular signaling cascade consisting of p38, MSK1, CREB, c-Fos, and AP-1.

α-Ionone Protects Against UVB-Induced Photoaging in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Ultraviolet (UV) light-induced wrinkle formation is a major dermatological problem and is associated with alteration in collagen. Here, we investigated the potential of α-ionone, a naturally occurring aromatic compound, in regulation of UVB-induced photoaging in human Hs68 dermal fibroblasts and identified the mechanisms involved. We found that in human dermal fibroblasts, α-ionone inhibited UVB-induced loss of collagen. α-Ionone upregulated the molecules participating in the TGF-β–SMAD pathway (TGF-β1, phospho-SMAD2/3, Col1A1, and Col1A2), but downregulated the molecules involved in the MAPK–AP-1 signaling pathway (phospho-p38, phospho-JNK, phospho-ERK, phospho-c-Fos, phospho-c-Jun, MMP1, MMP3, and MMP9), in human dermal fibroblasts. α-Ionone treatment also increased hyaluronic acid contents, and this effect was accompanied by an upregulation of mRNA expression of genes (HAS1 and HAS2) involved in hyaluronic acid synthesis. Thus, α-ionone is effective in the prevention of UVB-induced decrease of collagen and hyaluronic acid in human dermal fibroblasts. We propose that α-ionone may prove beneficial for the prevention of UV-induced wrinkle formation and skin damage.

The decreased secretion of hyaluronan by older human fibroblasts under physiological conditions is mainly associated with the down-regulated expression of hyaluronan synthases but not with the expression levels of hyaluronidases

Although it has been reported that levels of hyaluronan are decreased in the dermis of aged skin, little is known about the cellular mechanism(s) underlying that hyaluronan deficiency. Since hyaluronan is produced by dermal fibroblasts and is secreted into the surrounding dermal tissues, we examined the secretion of hyaluronan by dermal fibroblasts and characterized its cellular mechanism using real-time RT-PCR and western blotting for its synthesizing and degrading enzymes, hyaluronan synthase and hyaluronidase, respectively. The secretion of hyaluronan by dermal fibroblasts derived from differently aged human donors, was higher in the younger human fibroblasts tested (0 and 19 years old) compared to the older human fibroblasts tested (39, 56 and 77 years old). The relative secretion levels of hyaluronan by the different human fibroblasts tested were attributable to the relative expression of hyaluronan synthases 1, 2, 3 but not hyaluronidases 1, 2 enzymes at the gene and protein levels among those fibroblasts. These findings indicate that the deficiency of hyaluronan in the aged dermis might result from the down-regulation in the potential of older human fibroblasts to secrete hyaluronan and that decrease in secretory potential is mainly associated with the down-regulated expression of hyaluronan synthases, especially hyaluronan synthase 2, but not with the expression levels of hyaluronidases.

Low dose ultraviolet B irradiation increases hyaluronan synthesis in epidermal keratinocytes via sequential induction of hyaluronan synthases Has1-3 mediated by p38 and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling

Hyaluronan, a major epidermal extracellular matrix component, responds strongly to different kinds of injuries. This also occurs by UV radiation, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. The effects of a single ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure on hyaluronan content and molecular mass, and expression of genes involved in hyaluronan metabolism were defined in monolayer and differentiated, organotypic three-dimensional cultures of rat epidermal keratinocytes. The signals regulating the response were characterized using specific inhibitors and Western blotting. In monolayer cultures, UVB increased hyaluronan synthase Has1 mRNA already 4 h postexposure, with a return to control level by 24 h. In contrast, Has2 and Has3 were persistently elevated from 8 h onward. Silencing of Has2 and especially Has3 decreased the UVB-induced accumulation of hyaluronan. p38 and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II pathways were found to be involved in the UVB-induced up-regulation of Has2 and Has3 expression, respectively, and their inhibition reduced hyaluronan deposition. However, the expressions of the hyaluronan-degrading enzymes Hyal1 and Hyal2 and the hyaluronan receptor Cd44 were also up-regulated by UVB. In organotypic cultures, UVB treatment also resulted in increased expression of both Has and Hyal genes and shifted hyaluronan toward a smaller size range. Histochemical stainings indicated localized losses of hyaluronan in the epidermis. The data show that exposure of keratinocytes to acute, low dose UVB increases hyaluronan synthesis via up-regulation of Has2 and Has3. The simultaneously enhanced catabolism of hyaluronan demonstrates the complexity of the UVB-induced changes. Nevertheless, enhanced hyaluronan metabolism is an important part of the adaptation of keratinocytes to radiation injury.

Collagen fragments inhibit hyaluronan synthesis in skin fibroblasts in response to ultraviolet B (UVB): new insights into mechanisms of matrix remodeling

UVB irradiation causes characteristic features of skin aging including remodeling of the dermal extracellular matrix. A key feature during this process is the up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases and cleavage of collagen. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of the dermal matrix, decreases after chronic UVB exposure. However, the factors that govern the decline of HA synthesis during the course of actinic aging are largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore whether collagen degradation causes inhibition of HA synthesis in human skin fibroblasts. After treatment of fibroblasts with collagen fragments (CF) in vitro, resolution of the actin cytoskeleton and inhibition of HA secretion occurred because of specific down-regulation of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) expression. The α(v)β(3)-agonist, RGDS, latrunculin A, and an inhibitor of Rho-activated kinase inhibited HAS2 expression. Conversely, blocking antibodies to α(v)β(3) abolished the down-regulation of HAS2 and the cytoskeletal effects. Furthermore, inhibition of cofilin phosphorylation in response to CF was prevented by α(v)β(3)-blocking antibodies. The key role of ERK signaling was shown by reduced nuclear accumulation of phosphoERK and of ELK-1 phosphorylation in response to CF. In addition, the ERK inhibitor PD98059 reduced HAS2 expression. Also, UVB irradiation of fibroblasts caused down-regulation of HAS2, which was sensitive to matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors and to α(v)β(3)-blocking antibodies. In conclusion, these data suggest that CF activate α(v)β(3)-integrins and in turn inhibit Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling and nuclear translocation of phosphoERK, resulting in reduced HAS2 expression. Therefore, a novel mechanism is presented how proteolytic collagen cleavage may inhibit HA synthesis in dermal fibroblasts during extrinsic skin aging.

Chronic ultraviolet B irradiation causes loss of hyaluronic acid from mouse dermis because of down-regulation of hyaluronic acid synthases

Remodeling of the dermal extracellular matrix occurs during photoaging. Here, the effect of repetitive UVB irradiation on dermal hyaluronic acid (HA) was examined. C57/BL6 mice were chronically (182 days) irradiated with UVB, and consecutive skin biopsies were collected during the irradiation period and afterward (300 and 400 days of age). UVB caused marked loss of HA from the papillary dermis and down-regulation of HA synthase 1 (HAS1), HAS2, and HAS3 mRNA expression. In contrast, hyaluronidases (HYAL) 1, HYAL2, and HA receptor CD44 were unchanged. Furthermore, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) and TGF-beta1-receptor II expression were decreased in UVB-irradiated biopsies, and TGF-beta1 strongly induced HAS1 and HAS2 expression in cultured dermal fibroblasts. Therefore, TGF-beta1 might be one factor involved in UVB-induced down-regulation of HAS enzymes. In addition, total cell number and the percentage of proliferating fibroblasts in the papillary dermis of UVB-irradiated mice were decreased. Down-regulation of HAS2 by lentiviral overexpression of short hairpin RNA in vitro caused inhibition of HA synthesis, DNA synthesis, and migration of dermal fibroblasts. In conclusion, chronic UVB irradiation induces loss of HA from the dermis, thereby contributing to the quiescent phenotype of dermal fibroblasts.

A size-exclusion HPLC method for the determination of sodium chondroitin sulfate in pharmaceutical preparations

A size-exclusion HPLC method for the determination of sodium chondroitin sulfate (SCS) in pharmaceutical preparations has been developed and validated. The most important feature of this method compared with the previously reported assay methods was improved economical and determinative applications through direct analysis of SCS from pharmaceuticals. The linearity, precision, specificity, and accuracy of the method were established and validated. The intra- and inter-day precision was satisfactory with relative standard deviation lower than 1.0%. The recovery of SCS from multi-components pharmaceutical preparations were from 93.38 to 100.46%. Comparing our HPLC assay results with classical spectrophotometric methods, the developed method was considerably easy, simple and reproducible. As a result, the present method was supposed to be successfully applied to the assay of SCS for the routine quality control in pharmaceutical preparations.

Delayed induction of pigmented spots on UVB-irradiated hairless mice

Human skin exposed to solar radiation for a long time subsequently develops pigmented spots, which are named solar lentigines. Since no animal model of this process is currently available, we attempted to induce similar spots in pigmented hairless mice. The mice were irradiated at 38 or 94 mJ/cm(2) three times/week for various periods of time (1-8 weeks) under an ultraviolet light source (Toshiba FL-SE; UVB). Skin pigmentation of irradiated mice was visually observed and skin color was determined with a colorimeter for 78 weeks. Uniform pigmentation was induced, but persisted only during exposure, disappearing completely within 2 weeks after cessation of exposure. At about 28 weeks after the first exposure, pigmented spots suddenly began to appear. These pigmented spots were less than 2 mm in diameter and light brown in color. The length of the latent period until appearance and the extent of development of these spots were dependent on the exposure period. Histological examination revealed increased numbers of active melanocytes and melanin granules in the affected epidermis. These pigmented spots closely resemble solar lentigines in humans, and the mice should be useful as an animal model of solar lentigines.

Quantitative alterations of hyaluronan and dermatan sulfate in the hairless mouse dorsal skin exposed to chronic UV irradiation

The quantitative alterations of hyaluronan and dermatan sulfate in the upper dermis (fibrous tissue) and the lower dermis (adipose tissue) of the hairless mouse skin chronically exposed to the UV irradiation as solar-simulating irradiation (lambda(max) 352 nm, UV distribution: 300-310 nm, 0.9%; 310-320 nm, 2.0%; 320-420 nm, 97.1%) were evaluated. Hyaluronan and dermatan sulfate contents in each part of dermis were determined as follows: skin sections on a glass slide prepared by histological technique were processed into the upper dermis and the lower dermis with a small surgical knife, and treated with chondroitinase ABC and ACII in the presence of bacterial collagenase. The resulting unsaturated disaccharides were determined by HPLC method. By applying this method to the UV-irradiated hairless mouse skin, it was found that the chronic UV irradiation increased dermatan sulfate in the upper dermis, whereas an increase of hyaluronan content was not statistically significant. In the lower dermis, on the contrary, both hyaluronan and dermatan sulfate contents remarkably increased as compared with the control mice. Furthermore, the histological study showed the accumulation of the collagen fibers in the lower dermis of the UV-irradiated hairless mouse skin following the disappearance of adipocytes. These findings indicate that the increases of glycosaminoglycan contents in the UV-irradiated skin are related to the accumulation of the extracellular matrix components in the lower dermis.

Enzymatic method for the simultaneous determination of hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfates using high-performance liquid chromatography

A chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfates was examined. Hyaluronan differs from chondroitin sulfates in the susceptibility to chondroitinase ABC under alkaline conditions. When hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfates were treated with chondroitinase ABC in the buffered solution (pH 9.1), chondroitin sulfates were selectively degraded to the unsaturated disaccharides, whereas hyaluronan was not. Subsequently, hyaluronan in the reaction mixture was digested to the unsaturated tetrasaccharide and hexasaccharide at pH 6.0 by Streptomyces hyaluronidase in the presence of zinc ion (inhibitor for chondroitinase ABC). The separation of the resulting unsaturated disaccharides from chondroitin sulfates and the unsaturated oligosaccharides from hyaluronan was achieved by a reversed-phase ion-pair HPLC. The structural polydispersities of hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfates in the molecular weight, the sulfation position, or the components of uronic acid did not affect their determination. The usefulness of the present method was proved by application to the porcine skin samples.

Dermal connective tissue metabolism in photoageing

The term photoageing describes the clinical and histological cutaneous changes that are the consequence of repeated chronic sun exposures and are qualitatively different from those observed in chronological ageing. The connective tissue of the skin is composed mainly of collagen, glycosaminoglycans and elastin and, thus, alterations of these components in photoageing are briefly reviewed in the present article. Collagen changes in photoageing are partly explained by cross-links as well as the unbalanced regulation of collagen production and breakdown. Some visible skin changes can be induced by the consequence of dermal glycosaminoglycans, because the total amount, as well as the composition of the main disaccharide units, is significantly altered in the exposed sites of both aged people and photoaged mice. As for the mechanism of solar elastosis, increased elastin mRNA levels resulting from transcriptional up-regulation of the gene have been reported. Taken together, all components of the dermal connective tissue are affected by chronic actinic damage; however, further in vitro investigation is required to unmask the exact events in photoageing. With regard to this, our novel three-dimensional culture system should be of great help because it mimics the in vivo condition by self producing the extracellular matrices.

Photoaging from an oxidative standpoint

The free radical theory proposes that photoaging, which is both qualitatively and quantitatively different from chronological aging, may result from imperfect protection against cumulative stress of free radicals produced by chronic and repeated ultraviolet irradiation. Since the skin is always in contact with oxygen and is occasionally exposed to ultraviolet light, skin is one of the best target organs of environmental photo-oxidative stress. A growing body of evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species are generated by ultraviolet irradiation resulting in the structural and functional alteration of cutaneous components which should affect the photoaging process over a long period. The age-related alteration of cutaneous antioxidant defense capacity against cumulative effects of continual photo-oxidative stress to the skin may also affect the photoaging. Thus the possible use of antioxidants that attenuate photo-oxidative toxicity is believed to be an important strategy modulating photoaging. Several antioxidants have readily been proved to work in the experimental conditions. This paper reviews photoaging from a photo-oxidative standpoint and discusses the possible regulation of photoaging by antioxidants that is an important issue in the photodermatological field.