Effects of Natural Polyphenols on Skin and Hair Health: A Review.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and plays multiple essential roles, ranging from regulating temperature, preventing infections, to ultimately affecting human health. A hair follicle is a complex cutaneous appendage. Skin diseases and hair loss have a significant effect on the quality of life and psychosocial adjustment of individuals. However, the available traditional drugs for treating skin and hair diseases may have some insufficiencies; therefore, a growing number of researchers are interested in natural materials that could achieve satisfactory results and minimize adverse effects. Natural polyphenols, named for the multiple phenolic hydroxyl groups in their structures, are promising candidates and continue to be of scientific interest due to their multifunctional biological properties and safety. Polyphenols have a wide range of pharmacological effects. In addition to the most common effect, antioxidation, polyphenols have anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic, antitumor, and other biological effects associated with reduced risk of a number of chronic diseases. Various polyphenols have also shown efficacy against different types of skin and hair diseases, both in vitro and in vivo, via different mechanisms. Thus, this paper reviews the research progress in natural polyphenols for the protection of skin and hair health, especially focusing on their potential therapeutic mechanisms against skin and hair disorders. A deep understanding of natural polyphenols provides a new perspective for the safe treatment of skin diseases and hair loss.

A novel 7­hypoxia­related long non­coding RNA signature associated with prognosis and proliferation in melanoma.

Hypoxia­related long non­coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important indicators of the poor prognosis of cancers. The present study aimed to explore the potential relationship between melanoma and hypoxia­related lncRNAs. The transcriptome and clinical data of patients with melanoma were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The prognostic hypoxia­related lncRNAs were screened out using Pearson's correlation test and univariate Cox analysis. As a result, a hypoxia­related­lncRNA signature based on the expression of 7 lncRNAs was constructed, with one unfavourable [MIR205 host gene (MIR205HG)] and six favourable (T cell receptor ß variable 11­2, HLA­DQB1 antisense RNA 1, AL365361.1, AC004847.1, ubiquitin specific peptidase 30 antisense RNA 1 and AC022706.1) lncRNAs as prognostic factors for melanoma. Patients with melanoma were divided into high­ and low­risk groups based on the risk score obtained. Survival analyses were performed to assess the prognostic value of the present risk model. Potential tumour­associated biological pathways associated with the present signature were explored using gene set enrichment analysis. The CIBERSORT algorithm demonstrated the important role of the hypoxia­related lncRNAs in regulating tumour­infiltrating immune cells. Clinical samples collected from our center partly confirmed our findings. Cell Counting Kit­8 and flow cytometry assays indicated the suppression of proliferation of melanoma cells following inhibition of MIR205HG expression. Indicators of the canonical Wnt/ß­catenin signalling pathway were detected by western blotting. The present study demonstrated that MIR205HG could promote melanoma cell proliferation partly via the canonical Wnt/ß­catenin signalling pathway. These findings indicated a 7­hypoxia­related­lncRNA signature that can serve as a novel predictor of melanoma prognosis.

Vitamin D Modulation of Mitochondrial Oxidative Metabolism and mTOR Enforces Stress Adaptations and Anticancer Responses.

The relationship between the active form of vitamin D3 (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), two integral signaling molecules of the cell, is poorly understood. This is striking, given that both factors are involved in cancer cell regulation and metabolism. Mitochondria (mt) dysfunction is one of the main drivers of cancer, producing more mitochondria, higher cellular energy, and ROS that can enhance oxidative stress and stress tolerance responses. To study the effects of 1,25(OH)2D on metabolic and mt dysfunction, we used the vitamin D receptor (VDR)-sensitive MG-63 osteosarcoma cell model. Using biochemical approaches, 1,25(OH)2D decreased mt ROS levels, membrane potential (ΔΨmt), biogenesis, and translation, while enforcing endoplasmic reticulum/mitohormetic stress adaptive responses. Using a mitochondria-focused transcriptomic approach, gene set enrichment and pathway analyses show that 1,25(OH)2D lowered mt fusion/fission and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). By contrast, mitophagy, ROS defense, and epigenetic gene regulation were enhanced after 1,25(OH)2D treatment, as well as key metabolic enzymes that regulate fluxes of substrates for cellular architecture and a shift toward non-oxidative energy metabolism. ATACseq revealed putative oxi-sensitive and tumor-suppressing transcription factors that may regulate important mt functional genes such as the mTORC1 inhibitor, DDIT4/REDD1. DDIT4/REDD1 was predominantly localized to the outer mt membrane in untreated MG-63 cells yet sequestered in the cytoplasm after 1,25(OH)2D and rotenone treatments, suggesting a level of control by membrane depolarization to facilitate its cytoplasmic mTORC1 inhibitory function. The results show that 1,25(OH)2D activates distinct adaptive metabolic responses involving mitochondria to regain redox balance and control the growth of osteosarcoma cells. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Cloves Regulate Na+-K+-ATPase to Exert Antioxidant Effect and Inhibit UVB Light-Induced Skin Damage in Mice.

The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of cloves (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry) on the mouse skin using a UVB-induced skin injury mouse model. The serum, liver, and skin indexes of mice were determined by kits, H&E tissue staining, and qPCR assay. The compound composition of cloves was determined by HPLC. The results showed that cloves increased the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in the skin and then maintained the sodium and potassium pump in the damaged skin muscle membrane. Cloves alleviated the oxidative stress injury induced by UVB irradiation by normalizing the related oxidative stress indexes (T-SOD, CAT, AGEs, and H2O2) in serum and skin. Inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 and increased activation of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 occurred after treatment with cloves, which ultimately reduced the inflammatory damage to the body. Further results showed that cloves upregulate SOD1, SOD2, CAT, GSH, IL-10, IκB-α, AMPK, SIRT1, LKB1, PGC-1α, APPL1, and FoxO1 and downregulate NF-κB p65, TNF-α, IL-6, and mTOR mRNA expression in the skin tissues of UVB-damaged mice. The results of composition analysis showed that the five most abundant compounds in cloves are rutin, isoquercitrin, ferulic acid, dihydroquercetin, and quercitrin. Cloves regulate the skin sarcomembrane Na+-K+-ATPase through these five compounds, and because they regulate the oxidation, inflammation, and ATP energy consumption of the body, they subsequently protect the skin from UVB damage.

A pilot study of minimal invasion combined PDL/Nd:YAG laser in treating facial epidermoid cyst.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and complication of minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser and traditional surgical excision in the treatment of facial epidermoid cyst. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with facial epidermoid cyst aged from 16 to 65 years and cyst diameter ranged from 0.3 to 3.0 cm were treated and followed up. Patients were divided into the minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser treatment group and traditional surgical excision group. All patients were followed up for 12 months including scar size, recurrence rate, incidence of complications, and patient global satisfaction. RESULTS: The mean operative time in the minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser treatment was 15.23 ± 7.02 minutes, which is significantly shorter than that of surgical excision (27.26 ± 10.12 minutes, P < .05). After 12 months, the average scar size in minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser group was 0.54 ± 0.35 cm, while that of traditional surgical excision group was 1.77 ± 0.81 cm (P < .05). No statistical difference was found between two groups in the wounds split, hematoma, early and late recurrence rates (P > .05), while the patients' global satisfaction in the pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser group is much higher than that of the traditional surgical excision group. CONCLUSION: The treatment of minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser is effective and safe for medium-size facial epidermoid cysts. For facial epidermoid cyst ranging for 0.3 cm to 3.0 cm, considering the cosmetic factors, minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser should be particularly recommended.

Protective Effect of Lemon Peel Polyphenols on Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage to Human Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells Through Activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway.

Lemon peel can be used as traditional Chinese medicine. Flavonoids are the most important components in lemon peel, which can be developed as natural medicine without side effects. This study investigated the protective effect of lemon peel polyphenols (LPP) on human keratinocyte HaCaT cells under oxidative stress. The active components of LPP were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The abilities of LPP to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals were studied for detection of antioxidation in vitro. Cell survival rates were determined by MTT assay. The antioxidant enzyme activity and antioxidant index of cells were determined using kit. The mRNA and protein expression of cells were determined by qPCR and western blot. The ability of LPP to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals were stronger than those of vitamin C (Vc) at the same concentration. As expected, compared with the normal group of cells, the model group had decreased cell survival, increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), decreased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH), and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. qPCR and western blot results indicated that the expression of Bcl-2-related X protein (Bax), caspases-3, erythroid-derived nuclear factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were decreased and the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) was increased in the model group, compared with the normal group. LPP treatment improved cell survival rate, reduced intracellular LDH and MDA levels, increased intracellular SOD, CAT, GSH levels, down-regulated Bax, caspases-3, Nrf2, HO-1 expression, and up-regulated Bcl-2 expression. Component analyses found that LPP contains gallic acid, neochlorogenic acid, (+)-catechin, caffeic acid, (-)-Catechin gallate, isochlorogenic acid A, rosmarinic acid, and protocatechuic acid. LPP was found to regulate the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway through 8 active substances to protect HaCaT cells against oxidative stress in vitro.

DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 is an innate guardian for human squamous cell carcinoma and an molecular vector for anti-carcinoma effect of 1,25(OH)2 D3.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common non-melanoma skin cancers worldwide. While its exact tumorigenesis mechanisms is far from well-established and less satisfied therapeutic strategy can be clinically used nowadays. In this study, we intended to investigate the role of DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) in human SCC. Firstly, we identified DDIT4 is significantly suppressed in human SCC tissue and cultured A431 cell line, and reduced DDIT4 accelerates keratinocytes proliferation but impedes the autophagy flux through mTORC1 pathway by affecting the downstream S6 Kinase1, 4E-BP1, Beclin1 and LC3 II/I. While 1,25(OH)2 D3 enhanced DDIT4 expression and activated autophagy and inhibit mTORC1 to take the effect of anti-proliferation and activating autophagy. Further, formation of direct vitamin D receptor (VDR)-DDIT4 transcription complex was verified by ChIP-qPCR, which showed the molecular mechanism of how 1,25(OH)2 D3 promotes DDIT4 transcription. Thirdly, xenograft tumor-bearing mice model treated by gradient concentrations of 1,25(OH)2 D3 revealed the obvious anti-carcinoma effect of 1,25(OH)2 D3 in vivo and DDIT4 acted the molecular vector of 1,25(OH)2 D3 through mTORC1. Lastly, elevated DDIT4 expression was verified in human actinic keratoses tissue, and chronic long-term ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on mouse disclosed UV could promote DDIT4 expression inside epidermis. Conclusively, our research suggested a novel molecular mechanism about the human SCC tumorigenesis and the pharmacological mechanism about how 1,25(OH)2 D3 take its anti-carcinoma role on human SCC, as well as a striking paradoxes that how UV irradiation plays the tumorigenesis effect but synchronously take a protective role in the early stage of SCC carcinogenesis.

A Mal De Meleda patient with severe flexion contractures of hands and feet: A case report in West China.

RATIONALE: Palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) is a genetically heterogeneous group of skin diseases, which is characterized by erythema and hyperkeratosis. Mal de Meleda (MDM) is a rare type of PPK with an estimated prevalence in the general population of 1 in 100,000. PATIENT CONCERNS: In this study, we report a MDM patient with severe lesion in skin and flexion contractures of fingers and toes. DIAGNOSES: MDM was diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and gene test. INTERVENTIONS: This patient was treated with oral acitretin and topical tazarotene. OUTCOMES: Physical examinations indicated that the hyperkeratosis was in remission, but the erythema was expanding to her elbows progressively. Due to the adverse events (e.g., dry eyes and lips), the patient stopped taking the oral drug. LESSONS: MDM is a rare subtype of PPK, which is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern and has characteristics that skin lesions on hands and feet appear soon after birth and develop progressively. MDM can lead to severe flexion contractures in some cases. The reliable method for the diagnosis of MDM is gene test.

The Vitamin D Receptor Regulates Tissue Resident Macrophage Response to Injury.

Ligand-dependent actions of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) play a pleiotropic role in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. The liganded VDR is required for recruitment of macrophages during the inflammatory phase of cutaneous wound healing. Although the number of macrophages in the granulation tissue 2 days after wounding is markedly reduced in VDR knockout (KO) compared with wild-type mice, VDR ablation does not alter macrophage polarization. Parabiosis studies demonstrate that circulatory chimerism with wild-type mice is unable to rescue the macrophage defect in the wounds of VDR KO mice and reveal that wound macrophages are of local origin, regardless of VDR status. Wound cytokine analyses demonstrated a decrease in macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) protein levels in VDR KO mice. Consistent with this, induction of M-CSF gene expression by TGFß and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was impaired in dermal fibroblasts isolated from VDR KO mice. Because M-CSF is important for macrophage self-renewal, studies were performed to evaluate the response of tissue resident macrophages to this cytokine. A decrease in M-CSF induced proliferation and cyclin D1 expression was observed in peritoneal resident macrophages isolated from VDR KO mice, suggesting an intrinsic macrophage abnormality. Consistent with this, wound-healing assays in mice with macrophage-specific VDR ablation demonstrate that a normal wound microenvironment cannot compensate for the absence of the VDR in macrophages and thus confirm a critical role for the macrophage VDR in the inflammatory response to injury.

Methylation-mediated loss of SFRP2 enhances melanoma cell invasion via Wnt signaling.

Wnt signaling plays an essential role in the initiation and progression of melanoma tumors. The Secreted Frizzled Related Proteins (SFRPs) are a family of proteins that suppress Wnt signaling. The methylation of SFRPs reduces their activity, and hence augments Wnt signaling. However, whether the methylation of SFRP2, a member of SFRPs, may be involved in the pathogenesis of melanoma is not known. Here we investigated the expression levels of SFRP2 in melanoma specimens. We found that SFRP2 mRNA wassignificantly decreased and methylation of SFRP2 gene was significantly increased in malignant melanoma tumors ascompared to the paired adjacent non-tumor tissue. Moreover, SFRP2 expression was significantly decreased in the malignant melanoma celllines, HTB63, A2058 and A375, but not in the non-transformed melanocyte cell line, Hermes 3A. The demethylation of SFRP2 gene by 5'-aza-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dCyd) in melanoma cell lines restored SFRP2 expression, at both mRNA and protein levels, and suppressed cell invasion. Furthermore, the demethylation of SFRP2 geneappeared to inhibit nuclear retention of a key Wnt signaling factor, ß-catenin, in melanoma cell lines. Together, these data suggest that SFRP2may function as a melanoma invasion suppressor byinterfering with Wnt signaling, and the methylation of SFRP2 gene may promote pathogenesis of melanoma.

Treatment of axillary bromhidrosis through a mini-incision with subdermal vascular preservation: a retrospective study in 396 patients.

BACKGROUND: Axillary bromhidrosis is a condition presenting as malodor caused by an interaction between the discharge of apocrine glands and bacteria. Topical agents, liposuction, and elective surgery are currently the main therapeutic modalities. However, the efficiency of these treatments and incidences of side effects are various and frequent, and depend on patient characteristics, surgical technique, and other unknown factors. METHODS: We report a retrospective study of outcomes in 396 patients treated by mini-incision with subdermal vascular preservation. RESULTS: At 2 years postoperatively, 87.1% of patients had achieved very satisfactory results. Short-term side effects included hematomas, epidermal erosions, infections, necrosis, incision dehiscence, and skin ripples. Long-term side effects comprised comedones, epidermoid cysts, relapsing cyst infections, skin gauffers, scars, keloids, and persistent malodor. Some patients reported unsatisfactory cosmetic results, including skin gauffers, scars, or epidermoid cyst formations. CONCLUSIONS: Two discrete aspects of the procedure that must be considered are the extent of apocrine gland clearance, which must be thorough in order to achieve the resolution of malodor, and the maintenance of an intact subdermal vascular plexus to support the regrowth of skin flaps after surgery and to avoid the occurrence of severe side effects.

Portulaca oleracea L. aids calcipotriol in reversing keratinocyte differentiation and skin barrier dysfunction in psoriasis through inhibition of the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.

Psoriasis affects 2-4% of the population worldwide and its treatment is currently far from satisfactory. Calcipotriol and Portulaca oleracea have been reported to exhibit the capacity to inhibit inflammation in psoriatic patients and improve their clinical condition. However, the efficacy of a combination regimen of these two components remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the therapeutic efficacy of P. oleracea extract combined with calcipotriol on plaque psoriasis and its potential mechanism. Eleven patients with plaque psoriasis were treated with humectant containing the active ingredients of P. oleracea extract, with or without 0.005% calcipotriol ointment in a right-left bilateral lesion self-control study. Differences were evaluated by investigation of the clinical efficacy, adverse effects, skin barrier function, histological structure, expression and proliferation of keratinocytes, differentiation markers (cytokeratin 10, filaggrin and loricrin), inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8], as well as the status of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway. The combination of P. oleracea and calcipotriol was revealed to decrease adverse effects, reduce transepidermal water loss, potently reverse keratinocyte differentiation dysfunction, and inhibit the expression of TNF-α and IL-8 and the phosphorylation of the NF-κB inhibitor IκBα. This treatment is therefore anticipated to be suitable for use as a novel adjuvant therapy for psoriatic patients.

The role of nuclear hormone receptors in cutaneous wound repair.

The cutaneous wound repair process involves balancing a dynamic series of events ranging from inflammation, oxidative stress, cell migration, proliferation, survival and differentiation. A complex series of secreted trophic factors, cytokines, surface and intracellular proteins are expressed in a temporospatial manner to restore skin integrity after wounding. Impaired initiation, maintenance or termination of the tissue repair processes can lead to perturbed healing, necrosis, fibrosis or even cancer. Nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) in the cutaneous environment regulate tissue repair processes such as fibroplasia and angiogenesis. Defects in functional NHRs and their ligands are associated with the clinical phenotypes of chronic non-healing wounds and skin endocrine disorders. The functional relationship between NHRs and skin niche cells such as epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts is pivotal for successful wound closure and permanent repair. The aim of this review is to delineate the cutaneous effects and cross-talk of various nuclear receptors upon injury towards functional tissue restoration.

TLR7-expressing cells comprise an interfollicular epidermal stem cell population in murine epidermis.

Normal interfollicular epidermis (IFE) homeostasis is maintained throughout the entire life by its own stem cells that self-renew and generate progeny that undergo terminal differentiation. However, the fine markers of the stem cells in interfollicular epidermis are not well defined yet. Here we found that TLR7 identified the existence of progenitors and interfollicular epidermal stem cells in murine skin. In vitro, TLR7-expressing cells comprised of two subpopulations that were competent to proliferate and exhibited distinct differentiation potentials. Three-dimensional (3D) organotypic culture and skin reconstitution assays showed that TLR7-expressing cells were able to reconstruct the interfollicular epidermis. Finally, TLR7-expressing cells maintained the intact interfollicular epidermal structures revealed in serial transplantation assays in vivo in mice. Taken together, our results suggest that TLR7-expressing cells comprise an interfollicular epidermal stem cell population.

Paraquat-induced reactive oxygen species inhibit neutrophil apoptosis via a p38 MAPK/NF-κB-IL-6/TNF-α positive-feedback circuit.

Paraquat (PQ), a widely used herbicide and potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducer, can injure multiple tissues and organs, especially the lung. However, the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. According to previous reports, neutrophil aggregation and excessive ROS production might play pivotal pathogenetic roles. In the present study, we found that PQ could prolong neutrophil lifespan and induce ROS generation in a concentration-independent manner. Activated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), p38 mitogen-activated kinase (p38 MAPK), and myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (Mcl-1) but not Akt signaling pathways were involved in this process, as well as increasing levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-1ß. Furthermore, the proinflammatory mediators IL-6 and TNF-α could in turn promote ROS generation, creating a vicious cycle. The existence of such a feedback loop is supported by our finding that neutrophil apoptosis is attenuated by PQ in a concentration-independent manner and could partially explain the clinical dilemma why oxygen therapy will exacerbate PQ induced tissue injury.