Medical pearl: DHA application for camouflaging segmental vitiligo and piebald lesions

KIT Mutation Associated with Depigmented Patches Regression and Multiple Café-au-lait Macules Development in a Patient with Piebaldism: A Case Report

Piebaldism is a rare genetic disorder caused by KIT mutations and clinically characterized by fixed depigmented patches throughout the body. Herein, a case of piebaldism in which the depigmented patches regressed as the patient grew older, along with the development of multiple café-au-lait macules, is described. The likely pathogenic, heterozygous KIT c.1991-2A>G variant was detected as the potential cause of this unusual piebaldism phenotype. This case provides new knowledge on genotype-phenotype correlation of KIT mutations for piebaldism etiology and presentation.

Vitiligo Treatments: Review of Current Therapeutic Modalities and JAK Inhibitors

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by loss of pigment of the skin, affecting 0.5-2% of the population worldwide. It can have a significant impact on patients' quality of life. In recent years, there has been significant progress in our understanding of the pathogenesis of vitiligo. It is believed that vitiligo develops due to a complex combination of genetics, oxidative stress, inflammation, and environmental triggers. Conventional treatments include camouflage, topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, oral corticosteroids, phototherapy, and surgical procedures, with the treatment regimen dependent on the patient's preferences and characteristics. With increased understanding of the importance of the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, treatment has expanded to include the first US FDA-approved cream to repigment patients with vitiligo. This review summarizes our understanding of the major mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and its most common available treatments.

An alternative approach for quantification of glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone as trimethylsilyl derivatives by GC-FID

A method for quantification of glyceraldehyde (GA), dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and glycerol (GLY) by gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) involving one-step derivatization into trimethylsilyl ethers is presented. In pyridine, DHA and GA showed predominant peaks assigned to dimeric structures and smaller peaks corresponding to the monomers. The later were identified by GC-MS as their completely derivatized molecules and were useful for construction of calibration curves with high linear correlation. On the other hand, DHA dimers were completely dissociated in water but GA dimers remained whereas with both, intermediates peaks arose which were associated to hydrated trymethyil silyl species. A calibration approach involving the sum of areas of most relevant peaks associated to aqueous solutions of GA and DHA was developed. Replicates measurements of a problem solution were in accordance with the results obtained by a well stablished HPLC technique. The coefficient of variation was below 5% for GLY and below 12% for GA and DHA. Compared with the HPLC method, the new GC-FID method presented a similar limit of quantification in the case of GA whereas for GLY and DHA a one-order-of-magnitude increase of sensitivity was achieved. TMS derivatives of GA and DHA without prior oximation enable a useful technique to study the equilibrium of the different tautomeric forms in solution.

Biology of human melanocyte development, Piebaldism, and Waardenburg syndrome

Melanocyte development is orchestrated by a complex interconnecting regulatory network of genes and synergistic interactions. Piebaldism and Waardenburg syndrome are neurocristopathies that arise from mutations in genes involved in this complex network. Our understanding of melanocyte development, Piebaldism, and Waardenburg syndrome has improved dramatically over the past decade. The diagnosis and classification of Waardenburg syndrome, first proposed in 1992 and based on phenotype, have expanded over the past three decades to include genotype. This review focuses on the current understanding of human melanocyte development and the evaluation and management of Piebaldism and Waardenburg syndrome. Management is often challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach.

[Piebaldism: a pigmentary anomaly to recognize: about a case and review of the literature]

Piebaldism is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by an abnormal congenital skin pigmentation causing hypopigmented areas. It is due to an abnormal melanocytes development. It usually affects only the skin, but it may be associated with other anomalies or confused with other differential diagnoses. We report the case of a 5-year old boy with piebaldism having a family history of dermatologic phenotype without other alterations. We here highlight the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis as well as the management techniques and new therapeutic trials.

Conversion of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone by glycerol dehydrogenase co-expressed with an NADH oxidase for cofactor regeneration

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the efficiency of a cofactor regeneration enzyme co-expressed with a glycerol dehydrogenase for the production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA).

RESULTS

In vitro biotransformation of glycerol was achieved with the cell-free extracts containing recombinant GlyDH (glycerol dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase form Bacillus subtilis) or LpNox1 (NADH oxidase from Lactobacillus pentosus), giving DHA at 1.3 g l(-1) (GlyDH/LDH) and 2.2 g l(-1) (GlyDH/LpNox1) with total turnover number (TTN) of NAD(+) recycling of 6039 and 11100, respectively. Whole cells of E. coli (GlyDH-LpNox1) co-expressing both GlyDH and LpNox1 were constructed and converted 10 g glycerol l(-1) to DHA at 0.2-0.5 g l(-1) in the presence of zero to 2 mM exogenous NAD(+). The cell free extract of E. coli (GlyDH-LpNox) converted glycerol (2-50 g l(-1)) to DHA from 0.5 to 4.0 g l(-1) (8-25 % conversion) without exogenous NAD(+).

CONCLUSIONS

The disadvantage of the expensive consumption of NAD(+) for the production of DHA has been overcome.

Improving the production yield and productivity of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone from glycerol fermentation using Gluconobacter oxydans NL71 in a compressed oxygen supply-sealed and stirred tank reactor (COS-SSTR)

In this study, a compressed oxygen gas supply was connected to a sealed aerated stirred tank reactor (COS-SSTR) bio-system, leading to a high-oxygen pressure bioreactor used to improve the bio-transformative performance in the production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) from glycerol using Gluconobacter oxydans NL71. A concentration of 301.2 ± 8.2 g L(-1) DHA was obtained from glycerol after 32 h of fed-batch fermentation in the COS-SSTR system. The volumetric productivity for this process was 9.41 ± 0.23 g L(-1) h(-1), which is presently the highest obtained level of glycerol bioconversion into DHA. These results show that the application of this bioreactor would enable microbial production of DHA from glycerol at the industrial scale.

Simultaneous Bioconversion of Xylose and Glycerol to Xylonic Acid and 1,3-Dihydroxyacetone from the Mixture of Pre-Hydrolysates and Ethanol-Fermented Waste Liquid by Gluconobacter oxydans

Simultaneous bioconversion of xylose and glycerol to xylonic acid and 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) was realized by using Gluconobacter oxydans (G. oxydans). Currently, the enzymatic hydrolysate to ethanol-fermented waste liquid and the inorganic acid pre-hydrolysate that contain abundant glycerol and xylose were difficult to be utilized or disposed. Based on the method of compressed oxygen supply-sealed and stirred tank reactor system (COS-SSTR), the xylonic acid and 1,3-dihydroxyacetone could be co-produced rapidly with the mixture of the dilute sulfuric acid pre-hydrolysate and ethanol-fermented waste liquid of enzymatic hydrolysate (MPEW) as material. By means of the system, we finally produced 102.3 ± 3.2 g/L xylonic acid and 40.6 ± 1.8 g/L 1,3-dihydroxyacetone at yield of 92.4 ± 2.8 % and 80.6 ± 3.5 % directly and simultaneously from the mixed solution. The central features of this bioprocess application would enable cost-competitive bacterial xylonic acid and 1,3-dihydroxyacetone production from lignocellulosic materials.

Selective oxidation of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone by covalently immobilized glycerol dehydrogenases with higher stability and lower product inhibition

Glycerol dehydrogenase (GlyDH) catalyzes the regioselective oxidation of glycerol to yield 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA); an important building block in chemical industry. Three recombinant GlyDHs from Geobacillus stearothermophilus, from Citrobacter braakii and from Cellulomonas sp. were stabilized by covalent immobilization. The highest activity recoveries (40-50%) of the insoluble preparations were obtained by immobilizing these enzymes in presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Noteworthy, these immobilized preparations were more stable and less inhibited by DHA than their soluble counterparts. In particular, GlyDH from G.stearothermophilus immobilized on agarose activated with both amine and glyoxyl groups and crosslinked with dextran aldehyde was 3.7-fold less inhibited by DHA than its soluble form and retained 100% of its initial activity after 18h of incubation at 65°C and pH 7. This is one of the few examples where the same immobilization protocol has minimized enzyme product inhibition and maximized thermal stability.

Piebaldism

Piebaldism is an uncommon autosomal dominantly inherited pigment anomaly characterized by a congenital white forelock and leukoderma on the frontal scalp, forehead, ventral trunk and extremities. It is caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the KIT gene. Genetic analyses reveal a consistent genotype-phenotype relationship in piebaldism. However, recently reported cases of piebaldism that are milder or severer than genetically expected indicate that other factors, such as a modifier gene of MC1R, influence skin and hair color. The KIT ligand/KIT that triggers the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway play essential functions in the migration, proliferation, survival, melanogenesis and melanosome transfer of the melanocytes. We summarize current research progress in piebaldism and related disorders.

In vitro glycation of human serum albumin by dihydroxyacetone and dihydroxyacetone phosphate

Amino groups in proteins can non-enzymatically react with reducing sugars to generate a structurally diverse group of compounds referred to as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The in vivo formation of AGEs contributes to some of the complications of diabetes including atherosclerosis, cataract formation, and renal failure. The formation of AGEs is dependent on both sugar and protein concentrations. Increases in temperature, pH, and exposure time of sugars to the proteins also play a significant role in the rate of AGE formation. This study focuses on the use of a combination of analytical techniques to study the in vitro AGE formation of HSA with dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), a ketose generated during glycolysis, and its dephosphorylated analog, dihydroxy acetone (DHA), commonly used as a browning reagent in skin tanning preparations. The extent of AGE formation was affected by DHAP and DHA concentrations and by the duration of HSA exposure to these glycating agents. Increases in temperature and pH sped the glycation process and enhanced the formation of the AGEs of HSA. MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopic data provided a reliable result to evaluate the extent of the AGE formation.

Simultaneous production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone and xylitol from glycerol and xylose using a nanoparticle-supported multi-enzyme system with in situ cofactor regeneration

Cofactor-dependent biotransformations often require consumption of a secondary substrate for cofactor regeneration. Alternatively, two synthetic reactions may be coupled together through cofactor regeneration cycles. Simultaneous production of value-added products from glycerol and xylose was realized in this work through an enzymatic NAD(H) regeneration cycle involving two enzymes. Glycerol dehydrogenase (GDH) catalyzed the production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) from glycerol, while xylose reductase (XR) enabled the reduction of xylose to xylitol using the protons released from glycerol. Both enzymes were immobilized with P(MMA-EDMA-MAA) nanoparticles. Interestingly, the immobilized multi-enzyme system showed much improved productivity and stability as compared to native enzymes, such that the total turnover number (TTN) reached 82 for cofactor regeneration while the yield reached 160g/g-immobilized GDH for DHA production.

Melanin pigmentary disorders: treatment update

Most of the melanin pigmentary disorders are cosmetically important and have a strong impact on the quality of life of affected individuals. This article examines recent advances in the treatment of melanin pigmentary disorder including hypermelanosis and hypomelanosis. The development of laser technologies has completed the use of the increasing number of bleaching agents in treating hyperpigmented lesions. The treatment of hypomelanotic disorders is still often disappointing, but new therapeutic options provide encouraging results.