Lysophospholipids improve skin moisturization by modulating of calcium-dependent cell differentiation pathway

Mammalian Epidermis: A Compendium of Lipid Functionality

Mammalian epidermis is a striking example of the role of lipids in tissue biology. In this stratified epithelium, highly specialized structures are formed that leverage the hydrophobic properties of lipids to form an impermeable barrier and protect the humid internal environment of the body from the dry outside. This is achieved through tightly regulated lipid synthesis that generates the molecular species unique to the tissue. Beyond their fundamental structural role, lipids are involved in the active protection of the body from external insults. Lipid species present on the surface of the body possess antimicrobial activity and directly contribute to shaping the commensal microbiota. Lipids belonging to a variety of classes are also involved in the signaling events that modulate the immune responses to environmental stress as well as differentiation of the epidermal keratinocytes themselves. Recently, high-resolution methods are beginning to provide evidence for the involvement of newly identified specific lipid molecules in the regulation of epidermal homeostasis. In this review we give an overview of the wide range of biological functions of mammalian epidermal lipids.

Metabolite Profiling and Anti-Aging Activity of Rice Koji Fermented with Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus cristatus: A Comparative Study

Rice koji, used as a starter for maximizing fermentation benefits, produces versatile end products depending on the inoculum microbes used. Here, we performed metabolite profiling to compare rice koji fermented with two important filamentous fungus, Aspergillus oryzae and A. cristatus, during 8 days. The multivariate analyses showed distinct patterns of primary and secondary metabolites in the two kojis. The rice koji fermented with A. oryzae (RAO) showed increased α-glucosidase activity and higher contents of sugar derivatives than the one fermented with A. cristatus (RAC). RAC showed enhanced β-glucosidase activity and increased contents of flavonoids and lysophospholipids, compared to RAO. Overall, at the final fermentation stage (8 days), the antioxidant activities and anti-aging effects were higher in RAC than in RAO, corresponding to the increased metabolites such as flavonoids and auroglaucin derivatives in RAC. This comparative metabolomic approach can be applied in production optimization and quality control analyses of koji products.

The efficacy and safety of an antiaging topical serum containing hesperetin and sodium cyclic lysophosphatidic acid: A single-center clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Skin aging is characterized by dehydration and degradation of the structural components in the dermis. It has been demonstrated that hesperetin possesses collagen synthesis and antioxidant properties and sodium cyclic lysophosphatidic acid (NcPA) increases skin moisture through upregulating the synthesis of hyaluronic acid.

AIMS

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a serum containing hesperetin 0.1% and NcPA 0.1% for photoaged skin.

PATIENTS/METHODS

The trial consisted of a 12-week topical application of the test product twice daily. A total of 35 female subjects were enrolled. The primary outcome was the change of skin hydration and elasticity, which were determined by Corneometer and Cutometer measurements. Skin biopsy for histological evaluations and subject's self-assessment were conducted.

RESULTS

At week 12, a significant improvement of stratum corneum hydration (p = 0.015) and skin elasticity (p < 0.001) was detected comparing to baseline. The skin biopsy showed significantly improved scores of hyaluronic acid levels (p = 0.034) and elastic fiber structure (p = 0.023). Moreover, the test product resulted in a significant subject-reported overall satisfaction rate 94.3% after 12-week application (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Skin care product containing hesperetin and NcPA showed significant antiaging effects on skin hydration and elasticity.

Seven-day Green Tea Supplementation Revamps Gut Microbiome and Caecum/Skin Metabolome in Mice from Stress

Green tea supplementation has beneficial health effects. However, its underlying mechanisms, such as effects on modulating the intestinal microbiome and endogenous metabolome, particularly following short-term supplementation, are largely unclear. We conducted an integrative metabolomics study to evaluate the effects of short-term (7-day) supplementation of green tea extract (GTE) or its components, epigallocatechin gallate, caffeine, and theanine, on the caecum microbiota and caecum/skin metabolome in mice. Further, we established an integrative metabolome-microbiome model for correlating gut and skin findings. The effects of short-term supplementation with dietary compounds were evaluated with respect to UV stress response, with GTE showing the most remarkable effects. Biplot analysis revealed that Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus spp. were considerably influenced by short-term GTE supplementation, while Clostridium butyricum was significantly increased by UV stress without supplementation. GTE supplementation helped the skin metabolome defend against UV stress. Interestingly, a significant positive correlation was observed between caecum bacteria (Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus spp.) and metabolites including skin barrier function-related skin metabolites, caecal fatty acids, and caecal amino acids. Overall, 7-day GTE supplementation was sufficient to alter the gut microbiota and endogenous caecum/skin metabolome, with positive effects on UV stress response, providing insight into the mechanism of the prebiotic effects of GTE supplementation.

The role of lysophosphatidic acid in the physiology and pathology of the skin

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is the simplest phospholipid found in nature. LPA is mainly biosynthesized in tissues and cells by autotoxin and PA-PLA1α/PA-PLA1β and is degraded by lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs). It is an important component of biofilm, an extracellular signal transmitter and intracellular second messenger. After targeting to endothelial differentiation gene (Edg) family LPA receptors (LPA1, LPA2, LPA3) and non-Edg family LPA receptors (LPA4, LPA5, LPA6), LPA mediates physiological and pathological processes such as embryonic development, angiogenesis, tumor progression, fibrogenesis, wound healing, ischemia/reperfusion injury, and inflammatory reactions. These processes are induced through signaling pathways including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, protein kinase C (PKC)-GSK3β-β-catenin, Rho, Stat, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α). LPA is involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes in the skin. It not only regulates skin function but also plays an important role in hair follicle development, skin wound healing, pruritus, skin tumors, and scleroderma. Pharmacological inhibition of LPA synthesis or antagonization of LPA receptors is a new strategy for the treatment of various skin disorders. This review focuses on the current understanding of the pathophysiologic role of LPA in the skin.

Lipase-catalyzed Synthesis of Oleoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine by Direct Esterification in Solvent-free Medium without Water Removal

In this work, the synthesis of oleoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine by lipase-catalyzed esterification of glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and free oleic acid in a reaction medium without solvent is presented. The complete solubilisation of GPC, which is a crucial issue in non-polar liquids such as melted free fatty acids, was reached by heating the GPC/oleic acid mixture at high temperature during a short time. The immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme RM-IM) was shown to catalyze the reaction more efficiently than the immobilized lipases from Thermomyces lanuginosus (Lipozyme TL-IM) and Candida antarctica (Novozym 435). The condition reactions leading to the highest yield were as follows: substrate ratio: 1/20 (GPC/oleic acid); amount of catalyst: 10% (w/w of substrates); temperature: 50°C. Under these conditions, a yield of 75% of oleoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine was achieved in 24 h under stirring and almost no dioleoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine was produced. Unlike other studies dealing with the esterification of GPC with free fatty acids, the removal of the water produced while the reaction proceeds was not necessary to reach high yields.

Improvement by sodium dl-α-tocopheryl-6-O-phosphate treatment of moisture-retaining ability in stratum corneum through increased ceramide levels

Sodium dl-α-tocopheryl-6-O-phosphate (1), a water-soluble derivative of vitamin E (dl-α-tocopherol, 2), exhibits protective effects against various type of skin damage. As reported herein, we found that topical application of 1 improves hygroscopicity and water holding capacity in the stratum corneum of hairless mice in vivo by increasing the ceramide content. In normal human epidermal keratinocytes, treatment with 1 increases ceramide levels and enhances gene expression of serine palmitoyltransferase, which catalyzes the first step of ceramide synthesis in vitro. In addition, 1 increases gene expressions of differentiation markers (transglutaminase 1, cytokeratin 10, involucrin and loricrin), and intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations. These results suggest that 1 could be an excellent agent for improving skin moisture-retention by enhancing ceramide synthesis through the induction of differentiation.