Hyeong Mi Kim

Successful Treatment of Alopecia Areata with Topical Calcipotriol

Alopecia areata (AA) is an inflammatory hair loss of unknown etiology. AA is chronic and relapsing, and no effective cure or preventive treatment has been established. Vitamin D was recently reported to be important in cutaneous immune modulation as well as calcium regulation and bone metabolism. It is well known that areata is common clinical finding in patients with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D-resistant rickets, or vitamin D receptor (VDR) mutation. The biological actions of vitamin D3 derivatives include regulation of epidermal cell proliferation and differentiation and modulation of cytokine production. These effects might explain the efficacy of vitamin D3 derivatives for treating AA. In this study, we report a 7-year-old boy with reduced VDR expression in AA, recovery of whom was observed by topical application of calcipotriol, a strong vitamin D analog.

Berberine regulates melanin synthesis by activating PI3K/AKT, ERK and GSK3β in B16F10 melanoma cells

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has a wide range of beneficial properties, including anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and cholesterol-lowering effects. Recently findings suggest that berberine improves glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. In the present study, we examined the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of berberine on α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. The results showed that berberine attenuated α-MSH induction of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of berberine, we examined the effect of α-MSH-stimulated phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT, ERK, and GSK3β. The results showed that treatment with berberine resulted in a reduction in the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT, ERK, and GSK3β. Taken together, the results suggested that berberine inhibits melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity by downregulating the expression of MITF and tyrosinase. Thus, these findings may contribute to the potential application of berberine in the prevention and treatment of skin pigmentation disorders.

Transdermal drug delivery using disk microneedle rollers in a hairless rat model

Background  Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDSs) represent more reliable and consistent methods of drug dosing than oral administration. However, TDDSs can administer only low molecular weight (MW) drugs and require a power source. Disk microneedle rollers facilitate the passage of low and high MW substances through the direct perforation of the stratum corneum and dermis, without stimulating dermal nerves.

Inhibitory effect of tianeptine on catagen induction in alopecia areata-like lesions induced by ultrasonic wave stress in mice

Alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by rapid and complete hair loss in one or multiple areas of the scalp. Stress is an important triggering factor in AA.

Synergistic Inhibition of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha-Stimulated Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in HaCaT Cells by a Combination of Rapamycin and Mycophenolic Acid

Background Keratinocytes release various pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in response to cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ. Rapamycin and mycophenolic acid (MPA) have potent immunosuppressive activity because they inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. Objective We investigated the effects of rapamycin and MPA on the expression of inflammation-related factors such as ICAM-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and related signaling pathways in TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT cells. Methods The viability of HaCaT cells treated with rapamycin and MPA was confirmed using MTT assay. The expression of various cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8; inflammation-related factors such as ICAM-1 and iNOS; and the activation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways mediated by extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) in TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT cells were confirmed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results Combined treatment of TNF-α-induced HaCaT cells with rapamycin and MPA decreased ICAM-1 and iNOS expression and ERK and p38 activation more than treatment with either drug alone. The most significant decrease was observed with a combination of rapamycin (80 nM) and MPA (20 nM). These results show that co-treatment with these agents has a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect by blocking the activation of the ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway and thus suppressing the TNF-α-induced expression of ICAM-1 and iNOS. Conclusion The combination of rapamycin and MPA could potentially be used as a therapeutic approach in inflammatory skin diseases.

A comparison of neuropeptide expression in skin with allergic contact dermatitis in human and mouse

Background  Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a manifestation of a cell‐mediated immune response, but its mechanism remains unknown. Recently, we investigated whether ACD involves various neuropeptides. Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide that is known to act as a neurokinin receptor when the immune response is initiated. Calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) is a distinct typical neuropeptide and, with SP, induces the immune response. Neuropeptides in neurogenic inflammation are regulated by the inactivation of receptors and enzymes that can cause neuropeptide degradation (e.g. angiotensin‐converting enzyme [ACE]), but no enzyme that can degrade SP and CGRP has yet been reported.

The Safety Evaluation of a Potent Angiogenic Activator, Synthetic Peptide (SFKLRY-NH 2 ) for the Skin Application

A novel synthetic hexapeptide (SFKLRY-NH2) that displays angiogenic activity has been identified by positional scanning of a synthetic peptide combinatorial library (PS-SPCL). This study was carried out to investigate the irritation of the SFKLRY-NH2 on the skin. The tests were performed on the basis of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) guidelines. In results, cell toxicity is not appeared for SFKLRY-NH2 in HaCaT cells and B16F10 cells. SFKLRY-NH2 induced no skin irritation at low concentration (10 μM), mild irritation at high concentration (10mM). We consider that this result is helpful for saying about the safety of SFKLRY-NH2 in clinical use.