Horse Oil Mitigates Oxidative Damage to Human HaCaT Keratinocytes Caused by Ultraviolet B Irradiation

The inhibitory effect of chlorogenic acid on oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by PM2.5 in HaCaT keratinocytes

Exposure to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) can cause oxidative damage and apoptosis in the human skin. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a bioactive polyphenolic compound with antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The objective of this study was to identify the ameliorating impact of CGA that might protect human HaCaT cells against PM2.5. CGA significantly scavenged the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by PM2.5, attenuated oxidative cellular/organelle damage, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and suppressed cytochrome c release into the cytosol. The application of CGA led to a reduction in the expression levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein, caspase-9, and caspase-3, while simultaneously increasing the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2. In addition, CGA was able to reverse the decrease in cell viability caused by PM2.5 via the inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). This effect was further confirmed by the use of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, which acted upstream of ERK. In conclusion, CGA protected keratinocytes from mitochondrial damage and apoptosis via ameliorating PM2.5-induced oxidative stress and ERK activation.

Characteristics of Purified Horse Oil by Supercritical Fluid Extraction with Different Deodorants Agents

This study investigated the impact of activated carbon, palm activated carbon, and zeolite on horse oil (HO) extracted from horse neck fat using supercritical fluid extraction with deodorant-untreated HO (CON) as a comparison. The yield and lipid oxidation of deodorant untreated HO (CON) were not significantly affected by the three deodorants. However, deodorant-treated HOs exhibited significantly elevated levels of α-linolenic acid (C18:3n3) and eicosenoic acid (C20:1n9) compared to CON (p<0.05), while other fatty acids remained consistent. Zeolite-purified HO demonstrated significantly lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than other treatments (p<0.05). Remarkably, zeolite decreased the concentration of pentane, 2,3-dimethyl (gasoline odor), by over 90%, from 177.17 A.U. ×106 in CON to 15.91 A.U. ×106. Zeolite also effectively eliminates sec-butylamine (ammonia and fishy odor) as compared to other deodorant-treated HOs (p<0.05). Additionally, zeolite reduced VOCs associated with the fruity citrus flavor, such as nonanal, octanal, and D-limonene in HO (p<0.05). This study suggests that integrating zeolite in supercritical fluid extraction enhances HO purification by effectively eliminating undesirable VOCs, presenting a valuable approach for producing high-quality HO production in the cosmetic and functional food industries.

Seawater pearl hydrolysate inhibits photoaging via decreasing oxidative stress, autophagy and apoptosis of Ultraviolet B-induced human skin keratinocytes

BACKGROUND

Ultraviolet (UV) is the main reason to cause photoaging skin which not only hinders beauty, brings the patients with psychological burden, but also pathologically leads to the occurrence of tumors in skin.

OBJECTIVE

This study goes into the inhibitory effect and mechanism of seawater pearl hydrolysate (SPH) to address human skin keratinocytes photoaging induced by UVB.

METHODS

The photoaging model of Hacat cell was constructed by UVB irradiation, the levels of oxidative stress, apoptosis, aging, autophagy and autophagy-related protein and signal pathway expression were assessed to characterize the inhibitory effect and mechanism of SPH on photoaging Hacat cell.

RESULTS

Seawater pearl hydrolysate significantly accelerated (p < 0.05) the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, and markedly reduced (p < 0.05) the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl compound and nitrosylated tyrosine protein, aging level, apoptosis rate in Hacat cell induced by 200 mJ cm-2 UVB after 24 and 48 h of culture; high dose SPH significantly raised (p < 0.05) relative expression level of p-Akt, p-mTOR proteins, and markedly decreased (p < 0.05) relative expression level of LC3II protein, p-AMPK, and autophagy level in Hacat cell induced by 200 mJ cm-2 UVB, or in combination with the intervention of PI3K inhibitor or AMPK overexpression after 48 h of culture.

CONCLUSION

Seawater pearl hydrolysate can effectively inhibit 200 mJ cm-2 UVB-induced photoaging of Hacat cells. The mechanism indicates removing the excessive ROS through increasing the antioxidation of photoaging Hacat cells. Once redundant ROS is eliminated, SPH works to reduce AMPK, increase PI3K-Akt pathway expression, activate mTOR pathway to lowdown autophagy level, and as a result, inhibit apoptosis and aging in photoaging Hacat cells.

Purple Corn Silk Extract Attenuates UVB-Induced Inflammation in Human Keratinocyte Cells

UVB is a causative factor for severe skin damage, such as cell aging, death, and inflammation. UVB easily permeates into the epidermis layer of human skin, which is mainly composed of keratinocyte cells. In previous results, we found that purple corn silk (PCS) extract showed the potential to inhibit keratinocyte damages of UVB-treated cells. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of PCS extract against the inflammation of UVB-induced keratinocyte cells using the HaCaT cell line. HaCaT cells were treated with PCS extract at various concentrations for 1 h, then exposed to 25 mJ/cm2 UVB before subsequent experiments. Fragmented DNA was observed using flow cytometry. The inflammatory response was investigated through NF-κB activity by immunofluorescence staining and related protein expression by Western blotting. The results demonstrated that PCS extract decreased the sub-G1 DNA content. Interestingly, PCS extract attenuated NF-κB activity via suppressed NF-κB nuclear translocation and protein expression. Moreover, PCS extract remarkably decreased c-Jun phosphorylation and decreased proinflammatory cytokines, along with iNOS and COX-2 levels in UVB-treated cells compared to the UVB-control group. This finding exhibited that PCS extract minimized inflammation in keratinocyte cells induced by UVB radiation.

Epigallocatechin gallate enhances human lens epithelial cell survival after UVB irradiation via the mitochondrial signaling pathway

The aim of the present study was to explore the mechanism underlying the ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation-induced apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs), and to investigate the protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against the UVB-induced apoptosis of HLECs. HLECs were exposed to different concentrations of EGCG plus UVB (30 mJ/cm²). Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. Furthermore, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry with JC-1 and Annexin V/PI staining, respectively. Moreover, the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), as well as the levels of GSH, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl free radicals were determined using biochemical assay techniques. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-9 and caspase-3, respectively. The results revealed that UVB irradiation reduced the Δψm of HLECs and induced apoptosis. Notably, EGCG significantly attenuated the generation of H₂O₂ and hydroxyl free radicals caused by UVB irradiation in HLECs, and significantly increased CAT, SOD and GSH-Px activities, however, the GSH levels were not significantly increased. EGCG also reduced UVB-stimulated Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-9 and caspase-3 expression, and elevated Bcl-2 expression, suggesting that EGCG may possess free radical-scavenging properties, thus increasing cell viability. In conclusion, EGCG may be able to protect against UVB-induced HLECs apoptosis through the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway, indicating its potential application in clinical practice.

Protective effect of purple corn silk extract against ultraviolet-B-induced cell damage in human keratinocyte cells

Ultraviolet-B (UVB) could lead to inflammation and cell death induction. Purple corn silk (PCS), part of female flower of corn has multiple pharmacological properties. This investigation focused on determining the preventive effects of PCS extract on human keratinocyte HaCaT cell damage induced by UVB irradiation. Cells were irradiated with 25 mJ/cm² UVB after pre-treated with PCS extract for 1 h. Then, the cells were then placed in culture medium followed by subsequent experiments. Cell survival was determined by MTT assay. The immunofluorescence, DCFH-DA, JC-1, and Hoeshst33342 staining assays were used to determine γ-H2AX, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane potential of mitochondria, and nuclear condensation, respectively. Western blot analysis was used to investigate the proteins expression. The statistically significant comparison was calculated by analysis of variance at P < 0.05. The fluorescence and protein band intensity were quantified by Image J densitometer. The results indicated cell survival was increased upon PCS extract pretreatment followed by UVB exposure. PCS extract decreased γ-H2AX expression, intracellular ROS overproduction, and nuclear condensation in cells induced by UVB. Furthermore, The PCS extract pretreatment attenuated apoptosis response through stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased apoptosis mediator proteins including Bax, Bak, cleaved-caspases, and cleaved-PARP, and increased Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression comparing to the UVB-treated control. This finding demonstrated that the PCS extract can reduce the deleterious effects from UVB exposure through decreased intracellular ROS, DNA damage, and apoptosis induction on HaCaT cells.