Identification of characteristic compounds of moderate volatility in breast cancer cell lines.

In this study, we were challenging to identify characteristic compounds in breast cancer cell lines. GC analysis of extracts from the culture media of breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, SK-BR-3, and YMB-1) using a solid-phase Porapak Q extraction revealed that two compounds of moderate volatility, 1-hexadecanol and 5-(Z)-dodecenoic acid, were detected with markedly higher amount than those in the medium of fibroblast cell line (KMST-6). Furthermore, LC-TOF/MS analysis of the extracts clarified that in addition to the above two fatty acids, the amounts of five unsaturated fatty acids [decenoic acid (C10:1), decadienoic acid (C10:2), 5-(Z)-dodecenoic acid (C12:1), 5-(Z)-tetradecenoic acid (C14:1), and tetradecadienoic acid (C14:2)] in MCF-7 medium were higher than those in medium of KMST-6. Interestingly, H2O2-oxidation of 5-(Z)-dodecenoic acid and 5-(Z)-tetradecenoic acid produced volatile aldehydes that were reported as specific volatiles in breath from various cancer patients, such as heptanal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, 2-(E)-nonenal, and 2-(E)-octenal. Thus, we concluded that these identified compounds over-produced in breast cancer cells in this study could serve as potential precursors producing reported cancer-specific volatiles.

Comparison of cathepsin L activity in cheek and forearm stratum corneum in young female adults.

PURPOSE: The objective is to determine the usefulness of cathepsin L (Cat L) activity derived from the stratum corneum as an index of skin conditions by comparing the cheek and the forearm, in 20 female young adults. METHODS: The sebum quantity, hydration index, melanin index and pH were measured with a sensor system consisting of a sebumeter, a corneometer, a mexameter and a pH meter. The stratum corneum was collected using tape stripping. Cat L and total protein (TP) were analyzed and the Cat L/TP ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Our results indicated that (i) chronic sun exposure causes an increase in Cat L activity; and (ii) in order to cancel out the influence of the collecting technique, it is very important to measure the Cat L/TP ratio. CONCLUSION: It is considered that the Cat L/TP ratio may be a useful index of the skin conditions in humans.