A secretion of the mollusc Cryptomphalus aspersa promotes proliferation, migration and survival of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts in vitro.

Regenerative properties of skin decrease with age, and thus, the search for substances that minimize cutaneous ageing has increased in the last few years. The secretion of the mollusc Cryptomphalus Aspersa (SCA) is a natural product that bears regenerative properties when applied topically. The purpose of this work is to study the in vitro effects of SCA on cell proliferation and migration, as well as on cell-cell (E-cadherin and ß-catenin) and cell-substrate (vinculin and ß1-integrin) adhesion proteins expression, using a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells) and primary dermal fibroblasts (HF). We tested the effects of SCA on cell proliferation using a colorimetric assay. In addition, SCA-induced changes on cell migration were studied by wound-healing assays. Besides, Western blot and immunofluorescence microscopy were carried out to test the expression of different cell adhesion proteins. We found that SCA promotes proliferation and migration of HaCaT cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with SCA increases the migratory behaviour and the expression of adhesion molecules in both HaCaT and HF. Finally, SCA also improves cell survival and promotes phosphorylation of FAK and nuclear localization of ß-catenin. These results shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the regenerative properties of SCA, based on its promoting effect on skin cell migration, proliferation and survival. Moreover, these results support future clinical uses of SCA in the regeneration of wounded tissues.

New porphyrin amino acid conjugates: synthesis and photodynamic effect in human epithelial cells.

The efficacy of new porphyrin amino acid conjugates as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) were assayed in vitro on tumoral (HeLa) and on non tumoral (HaCaT) human cell lines. The conjugates stable in liposomes are able to penetrate efficiently in the cytoplasm of cultured cancer and normal cells. No dark cytotoxicity is observed at the same concentration used for PDT cell treatment and during long incubation time (24h). The cell survival after the PDT treatment with visible light is dependent upon light exposure level and compound concentration. The tested compounds show higher photocytotoxicity in tumoral HeLa cells than in no tumoral HaCaT cells. The results suggest that these amino acid porphyrin conjugates are potential photosensitizers for PDT.