Tae-Rin Kwon

Superoxide Dismutase 1 Inhibits Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone and Ultraviolet B-Induced Melanogenesis in Murine Skin

Background Over the last decade, the incidence of ultraviolet B (UVB)-related skin problems has increased. Oxidative stress caused by UVB induces the secretion of melanocyte growth and activating factors from keratinocytes, which results in the formation of cutaneous hyperpigmentation. Therefore, increasing the antioxidant abilities of skin cells is thought to be a beneficial strategy for the development of sunscreen agents. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that is known to exhibit antioxidant properties. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of SOD1 on alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and UVB-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells and HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice. Methods The inhibitory effect of SOD1 on tyrosinase activity was evaluated in a cell-free system. Additional experiments were performed using B16F10 melanoma cells to demonstrate the effects of SOD1 in vitro, and HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice were used to evaluate the antimelanogenic effects of SOD1 in vivo. Results We found that SOD1 inhibited melanin production in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity in B16F10 melanoma cells. SOD1 did not inhibit tyrosinase activity under cell-free conditions. The results indicate that SOD1 may reduce pigmentation by an indirect, nonenzymatic mechanism. We also found that SOD1 decreased UVB-induced melanogenesis in HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice, as visualized through hematoxylin and eosin staining and Fontana-Masson staining. Conclusion Our results indicate that SOD1 has an inhibitory effect on α-MSH and UVB-induced melanogenesis, indicating that SOD1 may be a promising sunscreen agent.

Picrasma quassioides inhibits LPS- and IFN-γ-stimulated nitric oxide production and inflammatory response in RAW264.7 macrophage cells

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Picrasma quassioides (P. quassioides) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and interferon (IFN)-γ-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. P. quassioides has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of gastro-enteritis, eczema, and snakebite. P. quassioides significantly decreased LPS- and IFN-γ-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in a concentration-dependent manner. Real-time PCR or Western blotting confirmed that the expression of the extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p42 and, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinase, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mediated MAPK signaling pathways in LPS- and IFN-γ-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Mechanistic studies revealed the activities of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). As P. quassioides regulated the gene expression of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW264.7 cells, it might be a promising agent for the prevention and/or treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

Improved methods for selective cryolipolysis results in subcutaneous fat layer reduction in a porcine model.

Cryolipolysis is a noninvasive method for the selective reduction of localized fat tissues. It has demonstrated efficacy in both clinical and preclinical trials; however, despite its popularity, its mechanisms of action and evaluation methods are not yet fully defined. The purpose of this study was to improved methods for cryolipolysis using a porcine model.

Therapeutic Effects of Full Spectrum Light on the Development of Atopic Dermatitis-like Lesions in NC/Nga Mice

Full spectrum light (FSL) includes UVA, visible light and infrared light. Many studies have investigated the application of FSL in severe cases of atopic dermatitis (AD) in humans; however, FSL has not yet been studied in an animal model. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of FSL on AD‐like skin lesions using NC/Nga mice, with the aim of mitigating itching and attenuating the expression of adhesion molecules. We examined the effects of FSL on mite allergen‐treated NC/Nga mice by assessing skin symptom severity, ear thickness, serum IgE levels, and the cytokine expression. We examined the histology of lesions using hematoxylin–eosin, toluidine blue and immunohistochemical staining. Our findings suggest that FSL phototherapy exerts positive therapeutic effects on Dermatophagoides farinae (Df)‐induced AD‐like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by reducing IgE levels, thus promoting recovery of the skin barrier. The mechanisms by which FSL phototherapy exerts its effects may also involve the inhibition of scratching behavior, reduction of IL‐6 levels and reductions in adhesion molecule expression. The present study indicates that FSL phototherapy inhibits the development of AD in NC/Nga mice by suppressing cytokine, chemokine and adhesion molecule expression, and thus, could potentially be useful in treating AD.

Comparison of efficacy and diffusion of three formulations of botulinum toxin type A in two patients with forehead hyperhidrosis

A number of studies have shown botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) to be a very effective treatment for focal hyperhidrosis. However, the different formulations of BoNTA are not identical. They may differ in terms of both their electrophysiological and clinical behaviour, and results obtained with one formulation cannot therefore be extrapolated to another. As a result, different formulations may have different efficacy and tolerability profiles. The literature contains few reports of direct comparisons of different formulations of BoNTA. Some studies have suggested that the diffusion of BoNTA2 (Dysport; Ipsen Ltd., Slough, UK) is greater than that of BoNTA1 (BOTOX; Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA). In this study, we directly compared the efficacy and diffusion characteristics of three different formulations in two patients with forehead hyperhidrosis, including the new BoNTA3 (NABOTA, Daewoong, Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea). We also investigated the diffusion area of the products to assess the area of effective action at the target site and to allow minimization of adverse effects. Two male patients, aged 32 and 34 years had been diagnosed as having forehead hyperhidrosis based on the US Food and Drugs Administration hyperhidrosis criteria. They had not received treatment with BoNTA in the preceding 12 months. We injected both patients with the three different formulations on the right (3.3 U BoNTA1), middle (8.3 U BoNTA2) and left (3.3 U BoNTA3) areas of the forehead. All injections were of identical volume (0.1 mL). Each product was reconstituted with 0.9% saline without preservative: 3 mL for BoNTA1 and BoNTA3, and 6 mL for BoNTA2. The injections were administered intramuscularly after marking each patient’s forehead with a template showing the three injection sites, which were 30 mm apart horizontally. We evaluated diffusion after 2 weeks by assessing the area of the anhidrotic halo using Minor iodine–starch test. To assess the efficacy, sweat production was quantified using transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and a corneometer. Two of the patients responded after 2 weeks to the BoNTA treatment, with an anhidrotic halo seen at each of the three injection sites. The largest area of anhidrosis was seen with BoNTA2, covering 6.7% of the total area, while BoNTA3 and BoNTA1 produced similarly sized areas of anhidrosis (2.5% and 2.6%, respectively) (Figs 1 and 2). The objective quantification of the forehead sweating before and after BoNTA injection is presented in Table 1. Two weeks after the treatment, there was an objective reduction in forehead sweating in all three patients. In our study, BoNTA injections proved to be an effective treatment for forehead hyperhidrosis. The amount of sweating was markedly reduced, as shown by TEWL and corneometer. The different areas of anhidrotic halo support the suggestions in previous reports that the area of diffusion appears to be greater with BoNTA2 than with BoNTA1. Minimizing the area of diffusion is important to minimize the potential for adverse effects (AEs), which is particularly important when the injection sites are close to other muscles, as is the case when treating,

Transcutaneous pneumatic injection of glucose solution: a morphometric evaluation of in vivo micropig skin and tissue-mimicking phantom.

Needle‐free, transcutaneous pneumatic injection systems can be used to deliver therapeutic solutions to targeted layers of skin in a minimally invasive manner.

A novel adamantyl benzylbenzamide derivative, AP736, inhibits melanogenesis in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells via glycogen synthase kinase 3β phosphorylation

Recently, much effort has been made to develop effective dermatological depigmenting compounds. In this study, we investigated the novel candidate compound, AP736 (an adamantyl benzylbenzamide derivative), and its effects on melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells, as well as the mechanisms involved. AP736 has been reported to exert anti-melanogenic effects in melanocytes in vitro and in artificial skin equivalents through the inhibition of key melanogenic enzymes and the suppression of the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA)-cAMP response element‑binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway. Thus, we examined another pathway of melanogenesis involving the effects of AP736 on the glycogen synthesis kinase 3β (GSK3β) pathway. Melanin content and tyrosinase activity were measured using a spectrophotometer after the cells were treated with AP736. The AP736-induced activation of signaling pathways was examined by western blot analysis. We confirmed that AP736 decreased melanin production in a dose-dependent manner; however, it did not directly inhibit tyrosinase, the rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme. The expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, and related signal transduction pathways was also investigated. The Wnt signaling pathway is deeply involved in melanogenesis; therefore, phosphorylation by GSK3β was assessed following treatment with AP736. AP736 induced GSK3β phosphorylation (inactivation), but it did not alter the level of β-catenin. Furthermore, the expression of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced tyrosinase was downregulated by AP736. Our data suggest that AP736 exerts hypopigmentary effects through the downregulation of tyrosinase via GSK3β phosphorylation.

Potential synergistic effects of human placental extract and minoxidil on hair growth‐promoting activity in C57BL/6J mice

Human placenta extract (HPE) has been used to alleviate tiredness and promote wound healing, and for its antiageing functions; however, it has not yet been studied for its effects on hair growth. In the present study, we evaluated the in vitro effect of HPE on hair growth by observing its actions on human dermal papilla cells (DPCs).

Conditioned medium from human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells promotes skin moisturization and effacement of wrinkles in UVB-irradiated SKH-1 hairless mice.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising therapeutic agents for various diseases.

Needle-free jet injection of hyaluronic acid improves skin remodeling in a mouse model

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to improve methods of jet injection using a mouse model. We investigated the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of the pneumatic device using injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) solution into a mouse model. METHODS We evaluated the efficacy and safety of an INNOJECTOR™ pneumatic device that pneumatically accelerates a jet of HA solution under high pressure into the dermis of mouse skin. We examined the treatment effects using skin hybrid model jet dispersion experiments, photographic images, microscopy, and histological analyses. RESULTS Use of the INNOJECTOR™ successfully increased dermal thickness and collagen synthesis in our mouse model. Jet dispersion experiments were performed using agarose gels and a polyacrylamide gel model to understand the dependence of jet penetration on jet power. The mechanisms by which pneumatic injection using HA solution exerts its effects may involve increased dermal thickening, triggering of a wound healing process, and activation of vimentin and collagen synthesis. CONCLUSIONS Collagen synthesis and increased dermal thickening were successfully achieved in our mouse model using the INNOJECTOR™. Pneumatic injection of HA under high pressure provides a safe and effective method for improving the appearance of mouse skin. Our findings indicate that use of the INNOJECTOR™ may induce efficient collagen remodeling with subsequent marked dermal layer thickening by targeting vimentin.