Taurin-conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid has a reversible inhibitory effect on human keratinocyte growth

Metabolomic Analysis and MRM Verification of Coarse and Fine Skin Tissues of Liaoning Cashmere Goat

One of the critical elements in evaluating the quality of cashmere is its fineness, but we still know little about how it is regulated at the metabolic level. In this paper, we use UHPLC–MS/MS detection and analysis technology to compare the difference in metabolites between coarse cashmere (CT_LCG) and fine cashmere (FT_LCG) skin of Liaoning cashmere goats. According to the data, under positive mode four metabolites were significantly up-regulated and seven were significantly down-regulated. In negative mode, seven metabolites were significantly up-regulated and fourteen metabolites were significantly down-regulated. The two groups’ most significant metabolites, Gly–Phe and taurochenodeoxycholate, may be crucial in controlling cashmere’s growth, development, and fineness. In addition, we enriched six KEGG pathways, of which cholesterol metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and bile secretion were enriched in positive and negative modes. These findings offer a new research idea for further study into the critical elements influencing cashmere’s fineness.

Current evidence on the role of lipid lowering drugs in the treatment of psoriasis

Background

Abnormal lipid distribution is observed in patients with psoriasis, which increases their risk for atherosclerosis. Lipid-lowering drugs have a certain curative effect in the treatment of psoriasis, but there is no relevant evidence-based medical evaluation.

Objective

The purpose of this systematic evaluation was to assess the efficacy, safety, and potential mechanisms of action of lipid-lowering drugs for the treatment of psoriasis.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Clinical Trial, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Database were searched for relevant articles from inception to 31 December 2021. The RevMan 5.3 and Cochrane risk-of-bias tool were used for data analysis and risk assessment, respectively. The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score is the primary outcome indicator in clinical studies. Based on preclinical studies, we elucidated and mapped the action mechanisms of lipid-lowering drugs in the treatment of psoriasis.

Results

The study included eight randomized controlled studies, four single-arm studies, and four in vitro studies. The results showed that lipid-lowering drugs, particularly statins, administered both orally and topically, can significantly improve psoriatic skin lesions and reduce the PASI scores [standardized mean difference, (SMD): −0.94; 95% CI: [−1.58, −0.31]; p = 0.004]. Oral statins performed best at week eight (SMD: −0.92; 95% CI: [−1.39, −0.44]; p = 0.0001). The mechanism of lipid-lowering drugs in the treatment of psoriasis may be related to the inhibition of keratinocyte proliferation, inhibition of CCL20–CCR6 interaction, and reduction in the levels of inflammatory factors.

Limitations

There are few studies on lipid-lowering drugs and psoriasis, and their small sample sizes may render the evidence unconvincing.

Conclusion

The present findings suggest that lipid-lowering drugs are relieving symptoms in psoriasis. Lipid-lowering drugs, particularly statins, can be used to treat psoriasis with good efficacy and few side effects.

The Unexpected Uses of Urso- and Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid in the Treatment of Non-liver Diseases

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is the taurine conjugate of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a US Food and Drug Administration–approved hydrophilic bile acid for the treatment of certain cholestatic liver diseases. There is a growing body of research on the mechanism(s) of TUDCA and its potential therapeutic effect on a wide variety of non-liver diseases. Both UDCA and TUDCA are potent inhibitors of apoptosis, in part by interfering with the upstream mitochondrial pathway of cell death, inhibiting oxygen-radical production, reducing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and stabilizing the unfolded protein response (UPR). Several studies have demonstrated that TUDCA serves as an anti-apoptotic agent for a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. In addition, TUDCA plays an important role in protecting against cell death in certain retinal disorders, such as retinitis pigmentosa. It has been shown to reduce ER stress associated with elevated glucose levels in diabetes by inhibiting caspase activation, up-regulating the UPR, and inhibiting reactive oxygen species. Obesity, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, spinal cord injury, and a long list of acute and chronic non-liver diseases associated with apoptosis are all potential therapeutic targets for T/UDCA. A growing number of pre-clinical and clinical studies underscore the potential benefit of this simple, naturally occurring bile acid, which has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 3000 years.

Psoriasis treated with ursodeoxycholic acid: three case reports

We report three Japanese patients with psoriasis vulgaris associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in which the skin lesions dramatically resolved after treatment of the fatty liver disease with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). According to the literature, arachidonic acid is released from phospholipid by phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) and is a precursor of eicosanoids, including prostaglandins, leucotrienes, and thromboxanes, which are potent inflammatory mediators. PLA(2) activity has been reported to be significantly raised in the serum and skin tissue of patients with psoriasis. UDCA has been reported to suppress the increased activity of group IIA PLA(2), a secretory low-molecular-weight PLA(2) (PLA(2)IIA), in HepG2 cells (a human hepatoblastoma-derived cell line) and in gallbladder and gallbladder bile samples from patients with cholesterol stones. Thus, UCDA may improve the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis by suppressing PLA(2)IIA activity.

Gastrin-releasing peptide, a bombesin-like neuropeptide, promotes cutaneous wound healing

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the effects of neuropeptides on wound healing.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), one of the bombesin-like neuropeptides, on wound healing.

METHODS

The effects of GRP on cultured keratinocyte proliferation and migration were measured by BrdU uptake and in vitro scratch assay, respectively. Various concentrations of GRP ointments (0, 10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6) M) were topically applied to 1.0 mm wounds on porcine flanks.

RESULTS

GRP stimulated keratinocyte growth and locomotion in a dose-dependent manner. Topical administration of GRP accelerated macroscopic epidermal regeneration in a dose-dependent manner, as measured by planimetry. Histologic studies also showed that GRP promoted reepithelialization, including epidermal thickness as well as superficial skin coverage.

CONCLUSION

Topical use of GRP may clinically accelerate wound healing of burns, injuries, chronic ulcers, and skin graft donor sites through the enhancement of keratinocyte growth and spreading.