Photoprotective effects of sphingomyelin-containing milk phospholipids in ultraviolet B-irradiated hairless mice by suppressing nuclear factor-κB expression

Serum lipidomics-based study of electroacupuncture for skin wound repair in rats

Lipid metabolism plays an important role in the repair of skin wounds. Studies have shown that acupuncture is very effective in skin wound repair. However, there is little knowledge about the mechanism of electroacupuncture. Thirty-six SD rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated group, model group and electroacupuncture group, with six rats in each group. After the intervention, orbital venous blood was collected for lipid metabolomics analysis, wound perfusion was detected and finally the effect of electroacupuncture on skin wound repair was comprehensively evaluated by combining wound healing rate and histology. Lipid metabolomics analysis revealed 11 differential metabolites in the model versus sham-operated group. There were 115 differential metabolites in the model versus electro-acupuncture group. 117 differential metabolites in the electro-acupuncture versus sham-operated group. There were two differential metabolites common to all three groups. Mainly cholesteryl esters and sphingolipids were elevated after electroacupuncture and triglycerides were largely decreased after electroacupuncture. The electroacupuncture group recovered faster than the model group in terms of blood perfusion and wound healing (p < 0.05). Electroacupuncture may promote rat skin wound repair by improving lipid metabolism and improving local perfusion.

Anti-skin aging activity of eggshell membrane administration and its underlying mechanism

Background

There is active research on developing materials for improving skin function. Eggshell membrane (ESM) is one such raw material that is consumed as a functional food to support skin health. However, studies on the mechanism of improvement of skin function on ingestion of ESM are still lacking.

Objectives

To explore this mechanism of action, we conducted an ultraviolet (UV) irradiation study on a SKH-1 hairless mouse model. Feeding ESM was found to improve skin moisture and reduce wrinkles during 12 weeks of UVB irradiation.

Results

Oral administration of ESM restored moisture in the dorsal skin tissue of mice. In addition, oral ingestion of ESM also reversed the increased transepidermal water loss and reduction of mRNA expression of hyaluronic synthases induced by UVB irradiation. Furthermore, UVB irradiation-induced collagen degradation was inhibited, and the expression of the collagenase MMP was reduced in the ESM intake group compared to the control. These results confirmed that oral ingestion of the ESM has an anti-wrinkle effect. In addition, the mRNA expression of the antioxidant enzyme SOD1, which was reduced on UVB irradiation, was restored on ingestion of the ESM. Restoring the expression of antioxidant enzymes is a key strategy for improving skin function of the ESM.

Conclusion

Taken together, the findings from our study reveal the potential of ESM as a nutricosmetic material with anti-wrinkle and skin moisturizing properties.

Glucocerebroside-Containing Milk Concentrated Powder Suppresses Oxidative Stress and Photoaging in the Skin of Hairless Mice

This study investigated the protective effects of glucocerebroside-containing buttermilk concentrated powder (GCBM) on oxidative stress and photoaging in ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated hairless mice. We measured antioxidant enzyme activities, collagen synthesis-related pathways, and moisturizing-related factors in the dorsal skin of mice. We observed that dietary supplementation with GCBM increased antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the UVB-irradiated dorsal skin. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with GCBM inhibited wrinkle formation by suppressing the JNK/c-FOS/c-Jun/MMP pathway and stimulating the TGF-βRI/Smad3/procollagen type I pathway. Dietary supplementation with GCBM also increased skin moisturization by stimulating hyaluronic acid and ceramide synthesis in the dorsal skin. Therefore, buttermilk powder supplementation helps prevent photoaging and can be used as an effective component in developing anti-photoaging products.

In Vitro Anti-Photoaging and Skin Protective Effects of Licania macrocarpa Cuatrec Methanol Extract

The Licania genus has been used in the treatment of dysentery, diabetes, inflammation, and diarrhea in South America. Of these plants, the strong anti-inflammatory activity of Licania macrocarpa Cuatrec (Chrysobalanaceae) has been reported previously. However, the beneficial activities of this plant on skin health have remained unclear. This study explores the protective activity of a methanol extract (50-100 μg/mL) in the aerial parts of L. macrocarpa Cuatrec (Lm-ME) and its mechanism, in terms of its moisturizing/hydration factors, skin wrinkles, UV radiation-induced cell damage, and radical generation (using RT/real-time PCR, carbazole assays, flowcytometry, DPPH/ABTS, and immunoblotting analysis). The anti-pigmentation role of Lm-ME was also tested by measuring levels of melanin, melanogenesis-related genes, and pigmentation-regulatory proteins. Lm-ME decreased UVB-irradiated death in HaCaT cells by suppressing apoptosis and inhibited matrix metalloproteinases 1/2 (MMP1/2) expression by enhancing the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. It was confirmed that Lm-ME displayed strong antioxidative activity. Lm-ME upregulated the expression of hyaluronan synthases-2/3 (HAS-2/3) and transglutaminase-1 (TGM-1), as well as secreted levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) via p38 and JNK activation. This extract also significantly inhibited the production of hyaluronidase (Hyal)-1, -2, and -4. Lm-ME reduced the melanin expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related protein-1/2 (TYRP-1/2) in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-treated B16F10 cells via the reduction of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and p38 activation. These results suggest that Lm-ME plays a role in skin protection through antioxidative, moisturizing, cytoprotective, and skin-lightening properties, and may become a new and promising cosmetic product beneficial for the skin.

Effects of Sphingomyelin-Containing Milk Phospholipids on Skin Hydration in UVB-Exposed Hairless Mice

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by ultraviolet (UV) exposure cause skin barrier dysfunction, which leads to dry skin. In this study, the skin moisturizing effect of sphingomyelin-containing milk phospholipids in UV-induced hairless mice was evaluated. Hairless mice were irradiated with UVB for eight weeks, and milk phospholipids (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) were administered daily. Milk phospholipids suppressed UV-induced increase in erythema and skin thickness, decreased transepidermal water loss, and increased skin moisture. Milk phospholipids increased the expression of filaggrin, involucrin, and aquaporin3 (AQP3), which are skin moisture-related factors. Additionally, hyaluronic acid (HA) content in the skin tissue was maintained by regulating the expression of HA synthesis- and degradation-related enzymes. Milk phospholipids alleviated UV-induced decrease in the expression of the antioxidant enzymes superoxidase dismutase1 and 2, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase1. Moreover, ROS levels were reduced by regulating heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an ROS regulator, through milk phospholipid-mediated activation of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Collectively, sphingomyelin-containing milk phospholipids contributed to moisturizing the skin by maintaining HA content and reducing ROS levels in UVB-irradiated hairless mice, thereby, minimizing damage to the skin barrier caused by photoaging.