Large-scale isolation of functional dermal papilla cells using novel surface marker LEPTIN Receptor.

Dermal papilla (DP) cells regulate hair follicle epithelial cells and melanocytes by secreting functional factors, playing a key role in hair follicle morphogenesis and hair growth. DP cells can reconstitute new hair follicles and induce hair regeneration, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for treating hair loss. However, current methods for isolating DP cells are either inefficient (physical microdissection) or only applied to genetically labeled mice. We systematically screened for the surface proteins specifically expressed in skin DP using mRNA expression databases. We identified two antibodies against receptors LEPTIN Receptor (LEPR ) and Scavenger Receptor Class A Member 5 (SCARA5) which could specifically label and isolate DP cells by flow cytometry from mice back skin at the growth phase. The sorted LEPR+ cells maintained the DP characteristics after culturing in vitro, expressing DP marker alkaline phosphatase and functional factors including RSPO1/2 and EDN3, the three major DP secretory factors that regulate hair follicle epithelial cells and melanocytes. Furthermore, the low-passage LEPR+ DP cells could reconstitute hair follicles on nude mice using chamber graft assay when combined with epithelial stem cells. The method of isolating functional DP cells we established here lays a solid foundation for developing DP cell-based therapy.

Ligulaveitnoid A, a new phenylpropanoid from rhizomes and roots of Ligularia veitchiana.

A new phenylpropanoid, ligulaveitnoid A (1), along with four known compounds, (E)-2,3-dihydroconiferyl p-coumarate (2), dihydroconiferyl ferulate (3), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (4) and (E)-p-coumaric acid (5) were isolated from rhizomes and roots of L. veitchiana. All the structures of compounds were identified by the interpretation of their spectroscopic data and comparison with those reported in the literature. The anti-inflammatory activity of the isolates was examined for their inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production in macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Among them, compound 2 showed strong inhibitory activities towards the LPS-induced NO production in macrophage RAW264.7 cells with IC50 value of 8.0 µM.

Chemical constituents from the barks of Melia azedarach and their PTP1B inhibitory activity.

One new long-chain ester derivative of trans-ferulic acid 1 and one natural tirucallane-type triterpenoid 2, together with forty known compounds (3-42), were isolated from the barks of Melia azedarach. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. Compounds 7, 9, 10, 12, 13 showed significant inhibitory activities against PTP1B with IC50 values of 13.82 ± 1.29 µM, 13.29 ± 2.26 µM, 20.27 ± 0.52 µM, 24.36 ± 1.25 µM, 15.23 ± 0.6 µM, respectively.

Potential anti-diabetic isoprenoids and a long-chain δ-lactone from frangipani (Plumeria rubra).

A decoction of Plumeria rubra flowers has been used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes in China and Mexico. Chemical investigations on the bioactive constituents of these flowers led to the isolation of 30 compounds, including the four new compounds, one iridoiod (1), two triterpenoids (4, 5), and a long-chain δ-lactone (16). In addition, 26 known compounds (2, 3, 6-15, 17-30) are also reported. All of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation and the absolute configurations of compound 4, 5, 16 were determined by Mosher's method. Compounds 1-4, 7, 8 and 16 showed moderate to significant inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, with 4 having IC50 values of 19.45 µM and 0.21 µM, respectively.

Chemical constituents from the leaves of Melia azedarach.

Six compounds, benzyl 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-7-hydroxybenzoate (1), spathulenol (2), 1,7,8-trihydroxy-2-naphtaldehyde (3), quercetin (4), astragalin (5) and 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenyl ß-D-glucoside (6), were isolated from the leaves of Melia azedarach L. The structure elucidation of compound 1 was discussed in detail based on its 2D-NMR data. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxicity against the cell lines of T-24, NCI-H460, HepG2, SMMC-7721, CNE, MDA-MB-231 and B16F10 with the inhibition rates from 10.01% to 34.05% at the concentration of 80 µM.