Nelumbo Nucifera leaf protects against UVB-induced wrinkle formation and loss of subcutaneous fat through suppression of MCP3, IL-6 and IL-8 expression

Role of epigenetics in the regulation of skin aging and geroprotective intervention: A new sight

Multiple epigenetic factors play a regulatory role in maintaining the homeostasis of cutaneous components and are implicated in the aging process of the skin. They have been associated with the activation of the senescence program, which is the primary contributor to age-related decline in the skin. Senescent species drive a series of interconnected processes that impact the immediate surroundings, leading to structural changes, diminished functionality, and heightened vulnerability to infections. Geroprotective medicines that may restore the epigenetic balance represent valid therapeutic alliances against skin aging. Most of them are well-known Western medications such as metformin, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), rapamycin, and histone deacetylase inhibitors, while others belong to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remedies for which the scientific literature provides limited information. With the help of the Geroprotectors.org database and a comprehensive analysis of the referenced literature, we have compiled data on compounds and formulae that have shown potential in preventing skin aging and have been identified as epigenetic modulators.

Causal associations of cytokines and growth factors with cholelithiasis: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that patients with cholelithiasis may have changes in levels of cytokines and growth factors, while their causal relationships were still unclear.

METHODS

This study was a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Datasets of 41 circulation cytokines and growth factors and the data on cholelithiasis were obtained. Six steps of strict instrumental variable filtration were set, and inverse-variance weighted analysis, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median test were used to identify the causal relationships. Benjamini-Hochberg method was used to adjust the P-values.

RESULTS

After adjustments of P-values, four cytokines and growth factors were still causally associated with cholelithiasis significantly: interleukin 2 receptor alpha (adjusted P: 4.59E-02), interleukin 8 (adjusted P: 1.09E-02), monocyte-specific chemokine 3 (adjusted P: 2.73E-04), and stem cell factor (adjusted P: 2.73E-04). In the reverse MR analysis, no significant causal relationship was detected after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

Four cytokines and growth factors, including interleukin 2 receptor alpha, interleukin 8, monocyte-specific chemokine 3, and stem cell factor, were proven to relate to cholelithiasis causally and unidirectionally.

Influence of chlorpyrifos exposure on UVB irradiation induced toxicity in human skin cells

BACKGROUND

Although chlorpyrifos (CPS) has been banned in many developed countries, it still remains one of the best-selling pesticides in the world. Widespread environmental and occupational exposure to CPS pose a serious risk to human health. Another environmental factor that can adversely affect human health is ultraviolet radiation B (UVB, 280-315 nm wave length). Here we attempt determine if exposure to CPS can modify toxic effects of UVB. Such situation might be a common phenomenon in agriculture workers, where exposure to both factors takes place.

METHODS

Two skin cell lines; namely human immortalized keratinocytes HaCaT and BJ human fibroblasts were used in this study. Cytotoxicity was investigated using a cell membrane damage detection assay (LDH Cytotoxicity Assay), a DNA damage detection assay (Comet Assay), an apoptosis induction detection assay (Apo-ONE Homogeneous Caspase-3/7 Assay) and a cell reactive oxygen species detection assay (ROS-Glo H2O2 assay). Cytokine IL-6 production was also measured in cells using an ELISA IL-6 Assay.

RESULTS

Pre-incubation of skin cells with CPS significantly increased UVB-induced toxicity at the highest UVB doses (15 and 20 mJ/cm2). Also pre-exposure of BJ cells to CPS significantly increased the level of DNA damage, except for 20 mJ/cm2 UVB. In contrast, pre-exposure of HaCaT cells, to CPS prior to UVB radiation did not cause any significant changes. A decrease in caspase 3/7 activity was observed in HaCaT cells pre-exposed to 250 µM CPS and 5 mJ/cm2 UVB. Meanwhile, no statistically significant changes were observed in fibroblasts. In HaCaT cells, pre-exposure to CPS resulted in a statistically significant increase in ROS production. Also, in BJ cells, similar results were obtained except for 20 mJ/cm2. Interestingly, CPS seems to inhibited IL-6 production in HaCaT and BJ cells exposed to UVB (in the case of HaCaT cells for all UVB doses, while for BJ cells only at 15 and 20 mJ/cm2).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the present study indicates that CPS may contribute to the increased UVB-induced toxicity in skin cells, which was likely due to the induction of ROS formation along with the generation of DNA damage. However, further studies are required to gain better understanding of the mechanisms involved.

Kaempferide Prevents Photoaging of Ultraviolet-B Irradiated NIH-3T3 Cells and Mouse Skin via Regulating the Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Signalings

Kaempferide (KFD) is a naturally occurring flavonoid that exists in various medicinal plants. The pharmaceutical properties of KFD, including its anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects, have been noted, but the effects of KFD on photoaging and their underlying molecular mechanism have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of KFD on Ultraviolet-B (UVB)-mediated photoaging processes using in vitro and in vivo photoaging model systems. The topical administration of KFD on mouse dorsal areas suppressed UVB-mediated wrinkle formation and epidermal thickening. In addition, the UVB-mediated reduction of dermal collagen content, which was estimated by Masson's trichrome staining, was recovered through KFD treatments. Furthermore, we found that UVB-induced abnormal values of procollagen type-1 (COL1A1), metalloproteinases (MMP-1a and MMP-3) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-8, MCP-3 and IL-6) on mouse skin tissue as well as NIH-3T3 cells was recovered through KFD treatment. The administration of KFD to NIH-3T3 cells suppressed the UVB-mediated upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and AKT phosphorylation. Furthermore, the treatment of ROS inhibitor restored the UVB-induced MAPKs and AKT phosphorylation as well as the abnormal expression of photoaging related genes. These findings indicate that KFD can attenuate UVB-induced ROS elevation to elicit anti-photoaging activity. Taken together, our data suggest that KFD could be developed as a potential natural anti-photoaging agent.

Alpinia officinarum Rhizome ameliorates the UVB induced photoaging through attenuating the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK

Background

Chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure is one of the major external factors in skin aging, and repetitive UVB exposure induces extracellular matrix (ECM) damage as well as metabolic disease. Alpinia officinarum Rhizome (AOR) is a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used for treating rheumatism and whooping cough. However, the antiphotoaging effects of AOR remain unclear. We investigated the protective effects of water extracts of AOR (WEAOR) in terms of UVB-mediated ECM damage, wrinkle formation, inflammatory responses, and intracellular signaling on hairless mice and NIH-3T3 skin fibroblast cells.

Methods

WEAOR was administered to UVB-irradiated hairless mice. Wrinkle formation was assessed using the replica assay, epidermal changes through H&E staining, and collagen contents in mice skin through Masson’s trichrome staining. The expression of procollagen type-1 (COL1A1), metalloproteinase-1a (MMP-1a), and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-3) in hairless mice skin and NIH-3T3 cells was investigated through qRT-PCR. The effects of WEAOR or signaling inhibitors on UVB-induced expression of intracellular mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were estimated by Western blotting and qRT-PCR, respectively.

Results

Topical WEAOR significantly attenuated the UVB-induced wrinkle formation and epidermal thickening in the skin of hairless mice. WEAOR treatment also attenuated the UVB-induced expression of MMP-1a and COL1A1 and recovered the reduction of collagen content in mouse skin. These effects were confirmed in NIH-3T3 skin fibroblast cells. WEAOR treatment restored the UVB-induced COL1A1 and MMP-1a gene expression and attenuated the UVB-induced expression of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-3 in NIH-3T3 cells. Notably, WEAOR attenuated UVB-induced phosphorylation of AKT and ERK, but not that of p38 and JNK in NIH-3T3 cells. In addition, the administration of AKT and ERK inhibitors restored the UVB-induced expression of MMP-1a and COL1A1 to an equal extent as WEAOR in NIH-3T3 cells.

Conclusions

The antiphotoaging properties of WEAOR were first evaluated in this study. Our results suggest that WEAOR may be a potential antiphotoaging agent that ameliorates UVB-induced photoaging processes via the AKT and ERK signaling pathways.

Identification of candidate medicinal herbs for skincare via data mining of the classic Donguibogam text on Korean medicine

Background

Korean cosmetics are widely exported throughout Asia. Cosmetics exploiting traditional Korean medicine lead this trend; thus, the traditional medicinal literature has been invaluable in terms of cosmetic development. We sought candidate medicinal herbs for skincare.

Methods

We used data mining to investigate associations between medicinal herbs and skin-related keywords (SRKs) in a classical text. We selected 26 SRKs used in the Donguibogam text; these referred to 626 medicinal herbs. Using a term frequency-inverse document frequency approach, we extracted data on herbal characteristics by assessing the co-occurrence frequencies of 52 medicinal herbs and the 26 SRKs.

Results

We extracted the characteristics of the 52 herbs, each of which exhibited a distinct skin-related action profile. For example Ginseng Radix was associated at a high-level with tonification and anti-aging, but Rehmanniae Radix exhibited a stronger association with anti-aging. Of the 52 herbs, 46 had been subjected to at least one modern study on skincare-related efficacy.

Conclusions

We made a comprehensive list of candidate medicinal herbs for skincare via data mining a classical medical text. This enhances our understanding of such herbs and will help with discovering new candidate herbs.

Ginsenoside C-Mx Isolated from Notoginseng Stem-leaf Ginsenosides Attenuates Ultraviolet B-mediated Photoaging in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Notoginseng is a traditional herbal medicine widely used for medicinal therapy in Asia, as it contains numerous ginsenosides with pharmacological effects. In this study, we submitted Notoginseng stem-leaf (NGL) ginsenosides to an enzyme to create a reaction with the monomer products of ginsenoside C-Mx and then investigated the ability of ginsenoside C-Mx to protect the skin against ultraviolet B-induced injury in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). Ginsenoside C-Mx alleviated UVB-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), MMP-1 and IL-6 expression while accelerating TGF-β and procollagen type I secretion. In addition, ginsenoside C-Mx reversed UVB-induced procollagen type I reduction by regulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Moreover, ginsenoside C-Mx inhibited activation of AP-1 transcription factor, an inducer of MMPs. Ginsenoside C-Mx displayed an outstanding antioxidant capacity, increasing expression of cytoprotective antioxidants such as HO-1 and NQO-1 expression by enhancing the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. Interestingly, application of ginsenoside C-Mx treatment (1, 10, 20 μm) significantly diminished UVB-induced suppressed NF-κB expression, decreasing the over-released inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, our findings indicated that ginsenoside C-Mx may act as a promising natural cosmetic ingredient for prevention and treatment of UVB-induced skin damage.

IL-1α inhibits proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells through NF-κB- and ERK1/2-mediated proinflammatory cytokines

Dysfunctional adipogenesis such as subcutaneous lipoatrophy is closely related to insulin resistance and metabolic disorders. Although the expression or release of the cytokine interleukin-1α (IL-1α) is known to increase in adipose tissue in response to cell death, cell senescence, aging, or solar radiation, the regulatory role of IL-1α in adipogenesis has not been sufficiently investigated. To investigate the problem, we explored the effect of IL-1α on the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) using cell counting, alamarBlue assay, oil red O staining, Western blot, among others. The results showed that IL-1α evidently inhibited the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs, which might be related with the activated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 pathways. Early-stage adipogenic differentiation was more sensitive to IL-1α than late-stage differentiation. After differentiation of ADSCs into mature adipocytes, adding of IL-1α had no obvious influence on the cellular morphology, including lipid droplet accumulation. IL-1α enhanced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-8, IL-6, CCL2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2), and IL-1β, when added into the adipogenic medium of ADSCs. Blocking IL-8 and IL-6 with neutralizing antibodies partially alleviated the inhibitory effect of IL-1α on the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation. The results suggest that IL-1α inhibits adipogenesis through activation of NF-κB and ERK1/2 pathways and subsequent upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines in ADSCs. IL-1α might play an important role in mediating lipoatrophy by regulation of ADSCs.

Lotus Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids: Health Promotion and Safe Consumption Dosages

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., also known as the sacred lotus, is extensively cultivated in Southeast Asia, primarily for food and as an herbal medicine. This article reviews studies published between 1995 and 2017, on flavonoid and phenolic acid profiles and contents of 154 different cultivars of lotus. So far, some 12 phenolic acids and 89 to 90 flavonoids (47 flavonols, 25 to 26 flavons, 8 flavan-3-ols, 4 flavanons, and 5 anthocyanins) have been isolated from different parts of the lotus plant, including its leaves (whole leaf, leaf pulp, leaf vein, and leaf stalk), seeds (seedpod, epicarp, coat, kernel, and embryo), and flowers (stamen, petal, pistil, and stalk), although not all of them have been quantified. Factors affecting flavonoids and phenolic acid profiles, including types of tissues and extracting factors, are discussed in this review, in order to maximize the application of the lotus and its polyphenols in the food industry. Health promotion activities, attributed to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids, are described along with toxicology studies, illustrating appropriate usage and safe consumption dosages of lotus extracts. This review also presents the controversies and discusses the research gaps that limit our ability to obtain a thorough understanding of the bioactivities of lotus extracts.