A Review of the Repair of DNA Double Strand Breaks in the Development of Oral Cancer.

We explore the possibility that defects in genes associated with the response and repair of DNA double strand breaks predispose oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) to undergo malignant transformation to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Defects in the homologous recombination/Fanconi anemia (HR/FA), but not in the non-homologous end joining, causes the DNA repair pathway to appear to be consistent with features of familial conditions that are predisposed to OSCC (FA, Bloom's syndrome, Ataxia Telangiectasia); this is true for OSCC that occurs in young patients, sometimes with little/no exposure to classical risk factors. Even in Dyskeratosis Congenita, a disorder of the telomerase complex that is also predisposed to OSCC, attempts at maintaining telomere length involve a pathway with shared HR genes. Defects in the HR/FA pathway therefore appear to be pivotal in conditions that are predisposed to OSCC. There is also some evidence that abnormalities in the HR/FA pathway are associated with malignant transformation of sporadic cases OPMD and OSCC. We provide data showing overexpression of HR/FA genes in a cell-cycle-dependent manner in a series of OPMD-derived immortal keratinocyte cell lines compared to their mortal counterparts. The observations in this study argue strongly for an important role of the HA/FA DNA repair pathway in the development of OSCC.

Molecular Mechanisms of Malignant Transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis by Different Betel Quid Constituents-Does Fibroblast Senescence Play a Role?

Betel quid (BQ) is a package of mixed constituents that is chewed by more than 600 million people worldwide, particularly in Asia. The formulation of BQ depends on a variety of factors but typically includes areca nut, betel leaf, and slaked lime and may or may not contain tobacco. BQ chewing is strongly associated with the development of potentially malignant and malignant diseases of the mouth such as oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), respectively. We have shown recently that the constituents of BQ vary geographically and that the capacity to induce disease reflects the distinct chemical composition of the BQ. In this review, we examined the diverse chemical constituents of BQ and their putative role in oral carcinogenesis. Four major areca alkaloids-arecoline, arecaidine, guvacoline and guvacine-together with the polyphenols, were identified as being potentially involved in oral carcinogenesis. Further, we propose that fibroblast senescence, which is induced by certain BQ components, may be a key driver of tumour progression in OSMF and OSCC. Our study emphasizes that the characterization of the detrimental or protective effects of specific BQ ingredients may facilitate the development of targeted BQ formulations to prevent and/or treat potentially malignant oral disorders and oral cancer in BQ users.

A miRNA-145/TGF-ß1 negative feedback loop regulates the cancer-associated fibroblast phenotype.

The dissemination of cancer cells to local and distant sites depends on a complex and poorly understood interplay between malignant cells and the cellular and non-cellular components surrounding them, collectively termed the tumour microenvironment. One of the most abundant cell types of the tumour microenvironment is the fibroblast, which becomes corrupted by locally derived cues such as TGF-ß1 and acquires an altered, heterogeneous phenotype (cancer-associated fibroblasts, CAF) supportive of tumour cell invasion and metastasis. Efforts to develop new treatments targeting the tumour mesenchyme are hampered by a poor understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of CAF. Here, we examine the contribution of microRNA to the development of experimentally-derived CAF and correlate this with changes observed in CAF derived from tumours. Exposure of primary normal human fibroblasts to TGF-ß1 resulted in the acquisition of a myofibroblastic CAF-like phenotype. This was associated with increased expression of miR-145, a miRNA predicted in silico to target multiple components of the TGF-ß signalling pathway. miR-145 was also overexpressed in CAF derived from oral cancers. Overexpression of miR-145 blocked TGF-ß1-induced myofibroblastic differentiation and reverted CAF towards a normal fibroblast phenotype. We conclude that miR-145 is a key regulator of the CAF phenotype, acting in a negative feedback loop to dampen acquisition of myofibroblastic traits, a key feature of CAF associated with poor disease outcome.

Characterisation of the cancer-associated glucocorticoid system: key role of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that production of cortisol not only takes place in several non-adrenal peripheral tissues such as epithelial cells but, also, the local inter-conversion between cortisone and cortisol is regulated by the 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11ß-HSDs). However, little is known about the activity of this non-adrenal glucocorticoid system in cancers. METHODS: The presence of a functioning glucocorticoid system was assessed in human skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma and further, in 16 epithelial cell lines from 8 different tissue types using ELISA, western blotting and immunofluorescence. 11ß-HSD2 was inhibited both pharmacologically and by siRNA technology. Naïve CD8+ T cells were used to test the paracrine effects of cancer-derived cortisol on the immune system in vitro. Functional assays included cell-cell adhesion and cohesion in two- and three-dimensional models. Immunohistochemical data of 11ß-HSD expression were generated using tissue microarrays of 40 cases of human SCCs as well as a database featuring 315 cancer cases from 15 different tissues. RESULTS: We show that cortisol production is a common feature of malignant cells and has paracrine functions. Cortisol production correlated with the magnitude of glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-dependent inhibition of tumour-specific CD8+ T cells in vitro. 11ß-HSDs were detectable in human skin SCCs and melanoma. Analyses of publicly available protein expression data of 11ß-HSDs demonstrated that 11ß-HSD1 and -HSD2 were dysregulated in the majority (73%) of malignancies. Pharmacological manipulation of 11ß-HSD2 activity by 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and silencing by specific siRNAs modulated the bioavailability of cortisol. Cortisol also acted in an autocrine manner and promoted cell invasion in vitro and cell-cell adhesion and cohesion in two- and three-dimensional models. Immunohistochemical analyses using tissue microarrays showed that expression of 11ß-HSD2 was significantly reduced in human SCCs of the skin. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate evidence of a cancer-associated glucocorticoid system and show for the first time, the functional significance of cancer-derived cortisol in tumour progression.

Senescence-Derived Extracellular Molecules as Modulators of Oral Cancer Development: A Mini-Review.

Oral cancers are predominantly oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) derived from keratinocytes, and there is now very detailed knowledge of the genetics and molecular biology of the epithelial tumourigenic component of these cancers, including the identification of cancer stem or tumour-initiating cells. Several key genetic alterations have been identified including the near ubiquitous loss of the CDKN2A/p16INK4A and p53 pathways and telomerase activation, together with frequent inactivation of the NOTCH1 canonical pathway either by somatic genetic alterations or by the presence of human papilloma virus. There is also evidence that OSCCs arise from a 'field' of altered cells and that malignant conversion takes place pre-dominantly at the microscopic level. However, in the last decade, it has been realised that tumour development and progression are influenced by the cells of the microenvironment with cross-talk between the epithelial (tumour) and mesenchymal components. OSCCs, especially those that have bypassed cellular senescence, produce an array of proteins and metabolites that induce cellular senescence in the normal surrounding cells; indeed, senescence is a common property of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Cellular senescence is defined as an irreversible cell cycle arrest and is associated with the release of molecules known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype that can selectively promote the growth of pre-neoplastic keratinocytes (osteopontin) and cancer invasion (transforming growth factor ß, matrix metalloproteinases, interleukin 6 and lactate). In addition, both old and new work has shown that keratinocytes harbouring NOTCH loss-of-function mutations that lead to defective keratinocyte differentiation and loss of squamous epithelial barrier function may act as a tumour-promoting stimulus for initiated cells harbouring RAS pathway mutations by activating a wound response in the tumour mesenchyme. Thus, not all keratinocytes in the tumour tissue may be tumourigenic and may instead act as promoters of tumour growth and progression analogous to the much-studied CAFs which co-evolve with the genetically altered tumourigenic cells. This new data is discussed in relation to attempts to develop novel non-invasive diagnostics and therapeutics for oral cancer.

Individual oral symptoms in burning mouth syndrome may be associated differentially with depression and anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is an idiopathic disease characterized by the feeling of burning in the oral cavity. Ten per cent of patients presenting to oral medicine clinics have BMS. Anxiety and depression are common co-morbidities in BMS, but it is not known if they are associated with specific BMS symptoms. OBJECTIVE: In an exploratory analysis, this study examined the association of generalized anxiety and depression with individual BMS symptoms. METHODS: Forty-one patients were recruited from a dental outpatient clinic (30 with BMS and 11 with other oral conditions), evaluating specific BMS symptoms and their intensity. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using a standardized measure (Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised). RESULTS: Taste change (p = 0.007), fear of serious illness (p = 0.011), metallic taste (p = 0.018) and sensation of a film on the gums (p = 0.047) were associated with an excess of psychiatric symptoms. More specifically, metallic taste (coefficient = 0.497, 95% CI = 0.149-0.845; p = 0.006) and sensation of film on gums (coefficient = 0.625, 95% CI = 0.148-1.103; p = 0.012) were associated significantly with higher scores for depressive symptoms; taste change (coefficient = 0.269, 95% CI = 0.077-0.461; p = 0.007), bad breath (coefficient = 0.273, 95% CI = 0.065-0.482; p = 0.012) and fear of serious illness (coefficient = 0.242, 95% CI = 0.036-0.448; p = 0.023) were associated with higher anxiety scores. CONCLUSION: Specific BMS symptoms are associated differentially with generalized anxiety and depression. Dental practitioners should ascertain which BMS symptoms are predominant and be mindful of the association of certain symptoms with anxiety or depression and, where necessary, consider medical consultation.

Senescent human fibroblasts show increased glycolysis and redox homeostasis with extracellular metabolomes that overlap with those of irreparable DNA damage, aging, and disease.

Cellular senescence can modulate various pathologies and is associated with irreparable DNA double-strand breaks (IrrDSBs). Extracellular senescence metabolomes (ESMs) were generated from fibroblasts rendered senescent by proliferative exhaustion (PEsen) or 20 Gy of γ rays (IrrDSBsen) and compared with those of young proliferating cells, confluent cells, quiescent cells, and cells exposed to repairable levels of DNA damage to identify novel noninvasive markers of senescent cells. ESMs of PEsen and IrrDSBsen overlapped and showed increased levels of citrate, molecules involved in oxidative stress, a sterol, monohydroxylipids, tryptophan metabolism, phospholipid, and nucleotide catabolism, as well as reduced levels of dipeptides containing branched chain amino acids. The ESM overlaps with the aging and disease body fluid metabolomes, supporting their utility in the noninvasive detection of human senescent cells in vivo and by implication the detection of a variety of human pathologies. Intracellular metabolites of senescent cells showed a relative increase in glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, the pentose-phosphate pathway, and, consistent with this, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase transcripts. In contrast, tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme transcript levels were unchanged and their metabolites were depleted. These results are surprising because glycolysis antagonizes senescence entry but are consistent with established senescent cells entering a state of low oxidative stress.

A hyaluronic acid-based compound inhibits fibroblast senescence induced by oxidative stress in vitro and prevents oral mucositis in vivo.

Virtually all patients receiving radio- and chemotherapy for cancer develop oral mucositis, a severe and highly debilitating condition. The onset of mucositis is thought to involve the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the submucosa. Here we investigated a possible protective effect of a commercial formulation of hyaluronic acid (HA) enriched with amino acids (Mucosamin(®)) against the damage induced by oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo. Transient exposure of normal human oral fibroblasts to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) led to irreversible senescence, as demonstrated by sustained increase in the levels of p16(INK4A) and SA-ßGal. Conditioned media from senescent fibroblasts induced detrimental effects on keratinocytes, as shown by reduced metabolic activity and migration capability. Pre-treatment with Mucosamin(®) prevented H(2)O(2) -induced, but not TGF-ß-induced, fibroblast senescence with a concomitant reduction of fibroblast-induced loss of keratinocyte vitality and functional activity. Finally, data from a case-series of patients undergoing radio/chemotherapy strongly suggested that prophylactic use of the hyaluronic acid-based compound in the form of a spray may be effective in preventing the onset of oral mucositis.

Progression of genotype-specific oral cancer leads to senescence of cancer-associated fibroblasts and is mediated by oxidative stress and TGF-ß.

Keratinocyte senescence acts as a barrier to tumor progression but appears to be lost in late pre-malignancy to yield genetically unstable oral squamous cell carcinomas (GU-OSCC); a subset of OSCC possessing wild-type p53 and are genetically stable (GS-OSCC). In this study, fibroblasts from GU-OSCC were senescent relative to fibroblasts from GS-OSCC, epithelial dysplastic tissues or normal oral mucosa, as demonstrated by increased senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA ß-Gal) activity and overexpression of p16(INK4A). Keratinocytes from GU-OSCC produced high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and this was associated with an increase in the production of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and TGF-ß2 in stromal fibroblasts. Treatment of normal fibroblasts with keratinocyte conditioned media (CM) from GU-OSCC, but not GS-OSCC or dysplastic keratinocytes with dysfunctional p53, induced fibroblast senescence. This phenomenon was inhibited by antioxidants and anti-TGF-ß antibodies. Fibroblast activation by TGF-ß1 preceded cellular senescence and was associated with increased ROS levels; antioxidants inhibited this reaction. Senescent fibroblasts derived from GU-OSCC or normal fibroblasts treated with CM from GU-OSCC or hydrogen peroxide, but not non-senescent fibroblasts derived from GS-OSCC, promoted invasion of keratinocytes in vitro. Epithelial invasion was stimulated by fibroblast activation and amplified further by fibroblast senescence. The data demonstrate that malignant keratinocytes from GU-OSCC, but not their pre-malignant counterparts, produce high levels of ROS, which, in turn, increase TGF-ß1 expression and induce fibroblast activation and senescence in a p5-independent manner. Fibroblasts from GU-OSCC were particularly susceptible to oxidative DNA damage because of high levels of ROS production, downregulation of antioxidant genes and upregulation of pro-oxidant genes. The results demonstrate the functional diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts and show that malignant keratinocytes from GU-OSCC reinforce their malignant behavior by inducing fibroblast activation and senescence through ROS and TGF-ß-dependent mechanisms.

Identification of novel small molecule TGF-ß antagonists using structure-based drug design.

Aberrant transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signalling has been associated with a number of disease pathologies, such as the development of fibrosis in the heart, lung and liver, cardiovascular disease and cancer, hence the TGF-ß pathway represents a promising target for a variety of diseases. However, highly specific ways to inhibit TGF-ß signalling need to be developed to prevent cross-talk with related receptors and minimise unwanted side effects. We have used used virtual screening and molecular docking to identify small molecule inhibitors of TGF-ß binding to TßRII. The crystal structure of TGF-ß3 in complex with the extracellular domain of the type II TGF-ß receptor was taken as a starting point for molecular docking and we developed a structure-based pharmacophore model to identify compounds that competitively inhibit the binding of TGF-ß to TßRII and antogonize TGF-ß signalling. We have experimentally tested 67 molecules suggested by in silico screening and similarity searching for their ability to inhibit TGF-ß signalling in TGF-ß-dependent luciferase assays in vitro and the molecule with the strongest inhibition had an IC50 of 18 µM. These compounds were selected to bind to the SS1 subsite (composed of F30, C31, D32, I50, T51 S52, I53, C54 and E55) of TßRII and all share the general property of being aromatic and fairly flat. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that this was the most likely binding mode. The computational methods used and the hits identified in this study provide an excellent guide to medicinal chemistry efforts to design tighter binding molecules to disrupt the TGF-ß/TßRII interaction.

Escape from Cellular Senescence Is Associated with Chromosomal Instability in Oral Pre-Malignancy.

An escape from cellular senescence through the development of unlimited growth potential is one of the hallmarks of cancer, which is thought to be an early event in carcinogenesis. In this review, we propose that the molecular effectors of senescence, particularly the inactivation of TP53 and CDKN2A, together with telomere attrition and telomerase activation, all lead to aneuploidy in the keratinocytes from oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). Premalignant keratinocytes, therefore, not only become immortal but also develop genotypic and phenotypic cellular diversity. As a result of these changes, certain clonal cell populations likely gain the capacity to invade the underlying connective tissue. We review the clinical implications of these changes and highlight a new PCR-based assay to identify aneuploid cell in fluids such as saliva, a technique that is extremely sensitive and could facilitate the regular monitoring of OPMD without the need for surgical biopsies and may avoid potential biopsy sampling errors. We also draw attention to recent studies designed to eliminate aneuploid tumour cell populations that, potentially, is a new therapeutic approach to prevent malignant transformations in OPMD.

Transforming growth factor-ß enhances invasion and metastasis in Ras-transfected human malignant epidermal keratinocytes.

Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) is known to act as a tumour suppressor early in carcinogenesis, but then switches to a pro-metastatic factor in some late stage cancers. However, the actions of TGF-ß are context dependent, and it is currently unclear how TGF-ß influences the progression of human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This study examined the effect of overexpression of TGF-ß1 or TGF-ß2 in Ras-transfected human malignant epidermal keratinocytes that represent the early stages of human SCC. In vitro, the proliferation of cells overexpressing TGF-ß1 or TGF-ß2 was inhibited by exogenous TGF-ß1; cells overexpressing TGF-ß1 also grew more slowly than controls, but the growth rate of TGF-ß2 overexpressing cells was unaltered. However, cells that overexpressed either TGF-ß1 or TGF-ß2 were markedly more invasive than controls in an organotypic model of SCC. The proliferation of the invading TGF-ß1 overexpressing cells in the organotypic assays was higher than controls. Similarly, tumours formed by the TGF-ß1 overexpressing cells following transplantation to athymic mice were larger than tumours formed by control cells and proliferated at a higher rate. Our results demonstrate that elevated expression of either TGF-ß1 or TGF-ß2 in cells that represent the early stages in the development of human SCC results in a more aggressive phenotype.

Fibroblast gene expression profile reflects the stage of tumour progression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis. This study examined the behaviour of fibroblast strains from normal oral mucosa, dysplastic epithelial tissue, and genetically stable (minimal copy number alterations-CNA; minimal loss of heterozygosity-LOH; wild-type p53; wild-type p16INK4A) and unstable (extensive CNA and LOH; inactivation of p53 and p16INK4A) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Fibroblasts from genetically unstable OSCC relative to the other fibroblast subtypes grew more slowly and stimulated the invasion of a non-tumourigenic keratinocyte cell line into fibroblast-rich collagen gels. To understand these findings, genome-wide transcriptional profiles were generated using the GeneChip(®) cDNA whole transcript microarray platform. Principal component analysis showed that the fibroblasts could be distinguished according to the stage of tumour development. Tumour progression was associated with down-regulation of cell cycle- and cytokinesis-related genes and up-regulation of genes encoding transmembrane proteins including cell adhesion molecules. Gene expression was validated in independent fibroblast strains using qRT-PCR. Gene connectivity and interactome-transcriptome associations were determined using a systems biology approach to interrogate the gene expression data. Clusters of gene signatures were identified that characterized genetically unstable and stable OSCCs relative to each other and to fibroblasts from normal oral mucosa. The expression of highly connected genes associated with unstable OSCCs, including those that encode α-SMA and the integrin α6, correlated with poor patient prognosis in an independent dataset of head and neck cancer. The results of this study demonstrate that fibroblasts from unstable OSCCs represent a phenotypically distinguishable subset that plays a major role in oral cancer biology.

Increased secretion of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 and 2 (TIMPs -1 and -2) in fibroblasts are early indicators of oral sub-mucous fibrosis and ageing.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is associated with paan chewing, altered collagen metabolism, inflammation and the upregulation of numerous cytokines. OSMF fibroblasts accumulate senescent cells at an increased rate because of increased reactive oxygen species production and DNA double-strand breaks (DDBs), generated intrinsically by damaged mitochondria. This results in a reduced replicative lifespan. However, it is still unclear which other changes are intrinsic to the fibroblasts and associated with OSMF rather than the paan chewing habit or the OSMF environment. Both the oral epithelium and the mesenchyme have elevated levels of TGF-ß(1) in OSMF in vivo. However, in cultured fibroblasts, secreted levels of TGF-ß(1,) other cytokines and the matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 2 showed no association with OSMF. In contrast, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, were increased in 10/11 OSMF fibroblast cultures relative to normal and non-diseased paan user controls. OSMF fibroblast collagen levels were normal. TIMP levels correlated with replicative lifespan of the cultures but not with the presence of senescent cells, as senescent cell depletion in OSMF fibroblast cultures did not result in a reduction in either TIMP-1 or TIMP-2. However, the introduction of unrepairable DDBs into normal oral fibroblasts by ionizing radiation increased TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 secretion by two-fold and seven-fold, respectively, within 5 days, replicating early senescence and the elevation seen in OSMF cultures. Therefore, increased fibroblast TIMP-1/2 levels could be early disease-specific markers of OSMF onset, DDBs and ageing and may have clinical significance, as OSMF can be reversed in its early stages.

Are There Betel Quid Mixtures Less Harmful than Others? A Scoping Review of the Association between Different Betel Quid Ingredients and the Risk of Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a potentially malignant condition of the oral cavity characterized by progressive fibrosis of the submucosal tissues. OSF is typically associated with the use of betel quid (BQ), a chewing package made of natural products (e.g., areca nut, betel leaves), with or without smokeless tobacco. BQ ingredients contain pro-carcinogenic bioactive compounds, but also potentially protective biomolecules, and we have shown recently that the chemical properties of different BQ recipes vary, which may explain the unequal prevalence of OSF and oral cancer in BQ users in different geographical regions. Hence, this scoping review was aimed at evaluating the existing literature regarding different BQ compounds and their association with OSF. The repository of the National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE/PubMed), medRxiv databases, Google scholar, Baidu scholar, CNKI, and EBSCO were used to search for publications that investigated the association between BQ chewing and OSF up to November 2021. The search terminology was constructed using the keywords "betel quid" and "oral submucous fibrosis", and their associated terms, with the use of Boolean operators. The search was conducted under Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, together with clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review showed that the risk of developing OSF varied between different BQ recipes, and that chewing BQ mixtures containing betel inflorescence (BI) significantly increased the risk of OSF, as did the addition of tobacco. Conversely, the use of betel leaf in the mixture was likely to be protective, which may be due to the presence of polyphenols. Although further research is needed to determine the effect of individual BQ ingredients in the development of OSF, our pilot results provide the scope and rationale for informing future chemopreventive strategies for OSF and oral cancer in BQ chewers.

Keratinocytes synthesize and activate cortisol.

The bioavailability of circulating and/or endogenous hydrocortisone (cortisol) in epidermal cells is a key determinant in inflammatory disease and chronic wounds. It is not known, however, whether epidermal cells can regulate tissue cortisol and whether they are capable of producing endogenous glucocorticoids. In the present study, we show by microarray analysis that epidermal cells express mRNAs to all the major enzymes involved in the metabolic chain from cholesterol to cortisol, including cytocrome P450 chain, 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD11Bs), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) receptor (MC2R), and glucocorticoid receptor. The two enzymes mediating activation/deactivation of cortisone to cortisol, namely HSD11B1 and HSD11B2, were expressed at the protein level in cultured keratinocytes as well as human skin samples, as shown by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In functional assays, we show that keratinocytes are not only able to activate cortisone to cortisol in a HSD11B-dependent manner but also silencing of either HSD11B1 or HSD11B2 specifically modulates the bioavailability of the inactive glucocorticoid and the active steroid, respectively. A further key observation was that keratinocytes responded to stimulation with ACTH by a significant increase in the de novo synthesis of cortisol. Taken together, we provide evidence for a novel non-adrenal steroideal system in human keratinocytes.

Induction of hyper-adhesion attenuates autoimmune-induced keratinocyte cell-cell detachment and processing of adhesion molecules via mechanisms that involve PKC.

In confluent keratinocyte monolayers, desmosomal adhesion gradually becomes calcium-independent and this is associated with an increase in the strength of intercellular adhesion (hyper-adhesion). In this study, we investigated the functional and molecular significance of hyper-adhesion in a system challenged by autoimmune sera from patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV), a disease primarily targeting desmosomal adhesion. The results show that keratinocytes with calcium-independent desmosomes are resistant to disruption of intercellular contacts (acantholysis) in experimental PV. Furthermore, both the desmosomal cadherins desmoglein (Dsg) 1 and Dsg3 and the adherens junction protein E-cadherin were decreased in confluent keratinocytes at Day 1, but not in hyper-adhesive cells (Day 6) after incubation with PV serum. Pharmacological induction of the hyper-adhesive state with the PKC inhibitor Go6976 reduced both the acantholysis rate and the processing of cell adhesion molecules induced by PV serum. When the establishment of the hyper-adhesive state was prevented by cell adhesion recognition (CAR) peptides that perturbed desmosomal interactions, Go6976 could still partially attenuate PV acantholysis. Taken together, these data demonstrate that keratinocyte hyper-adhesion decreases the morphological, functional and biochemical dys-cohesive effects of PV serum via mechanisms that involve, at least in part, the function of PKC. This suggests that reinforcing keratinocyte adhesion may be a promising way to inhibit the effects of this most debilitating disorder.

A Scoping Review of the Role of Metalloproteinases in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Pemphigus and Pemphigoid.

Pemphigus and pemphigoid diseases are potentially life-threatening autoimmune blistering disorders that are characterized by intraepithelial and subepithelial blister formation, respectively. In both disease groups, skin and/or mucosal blistering develop as a result of a disruption of intercellular adhesion (pemphigus) and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion (pemphigoid). Given that metalloproteinases can target cell adhesion molecules, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of these enzymes in the pathogenesis of these bullous dermatoses. Studies examining MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) and the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) family of proteases in pemphigus and pemphigoid were selected from articles published in the repository of the National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE/PubMed) and bioRxiv. Multiple phases of screening were conducted, and relevant data were extracted and tabulated, with 29 articles included in the final qualitative analysis. The majority of the literature investigated the role of specific components of the MMP family primarily in bullous pemphigoid (BP) whereas studies that focused on pemphigus were rarer. The most commonly studied metalloproteinase was MMP-9 followed by MMP-2; other MMPs included MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-8, MMP-12 and MMP-13. Molecules related to MMPs were also included, namely, ADAM5, 8, 10, 15, 17, together with TIMP-1 and TIMP-3. The results demonstrated that ADAM10 and MMP-9 activity is necessary for blister formation in experimental models of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and BP, respectively. The data linking MMPs to the pathogenesis of experimental BP were relatively strong but the evidence for involvement of metalloproteinases in PV was more tentative. These molecules represent potential candidates for the development of mechanism-based treatments of these blistering diseases.