A human 3D immune competent full-thickness skin model mimicking dermal dendritic cell activation.

We have integrated dermal dendritic cell surrogates originally generated from the cell line THP-1 as central mediators of the immune reaction in a human full-thickness skin model. Accordingly, sensitizer treatment of THP-1-derived CD14-, CD11c+ immature dendritic cells (iDCs) resulted in the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in the presence of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) (2.6-fold) as well as in degradation of the inhibitor protein kappa B alpha (IκBα) upon incubation with NiSO4 (1.6-fold). Furthermore, NiSO4 led to an increase in mRNA levels of IL-6 (2.4-fold), TNF-α (2-fold) and of IL-8 (15-fold). These results were confirmed on the protein level, with even stronger effects on cytokine release in the presence of NiSO4: Cytokine secretion was significantly increased for IL-8 (147-fold), IL-6 (11.8-fold) and IL-1ß (28.8-fold). Notably, DNCB treatment revealed an increase for IL-8 (28.6-fold) and IL-1ß (5.6-fold). Importantly, NiSO4 treatment of isolated iDCs as well as of iDCs integrated as dermal dendritic cell surrogates into our full-thickness skin model (SM) induced the upregulation of the adhesion molecule clusters of differentiation (CD)54 (iDCs: 1.2-fold; SM: 1.3-fold) and the co-stimulatory molecule and DC maturation marker CD86 (iDCs ~1.4-fold; SM:~1.5-fold) surface marker expression. Noteworthy, the expression of CD54 and CD86 could be suppressed by dexamethasone treatment on isolated iDCs (CD54: 1.3-fold; CD86: 2.1-fold) as well as on the tissue-integrated iDCs (CD54: 1.4-fold; CD86: 1.6-fold). In conclusion, we were able to integrate THP-1-derived iDCs as functional dermal dendritic cell surrogates allowing the qualitative identification of potential sensitizers on the one hand, and drug candidates that potentially suppress sensitization on the other hand in a 3D human skin model corresponding to the 3R principles ("replace", "reduce" and "refine").

Teleocidin A2 inhibits human proteinase-activated receptor 2 signaling in tumor cells.

Enhanced expression of the proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is linked to cell proliferation and migration in many cancer cell types. The role of PAR2 in cancer progression strongly illustrates the need for PAR2-inhibiting compounds. However, to date, potent and selective PAR2 antagonists have not been reported. The natural product teleocidin A2 was characterized against PAR2-activating peptide SLIGKV-NH 2, and trypsin-induced PAR2-dependent intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in tumor and in primary endothelial or epithelial cells. Further biochemical and cell-based studies were conducted to evaluate teleocidin specificity. The antagonizing effect of teleocidin A2 was confirmed in PAR2-dependent cell migration and rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton of human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA-MB 231) breast cancer cells. Teleocidin A2 antagonizes PAR2-dependent intracellular Ca2+ mobilization induced by either SLIGKV-NH 2 or trypsin with IC 50 values from 15 to 25 nmol/L in MDA-MB 231, lung carcinoma cell line, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell. Half maximal inhibition of either PAR1 or P2Y receptor-dependent Ca2+ release is only achieved with 10- to 20-fold higher concentrations of teleocidin A2. In low nanomolar concentrations, teleocidin A2 reverses both SLIGKV-NH 2 and trypsin-mediated PAR2-dependent migration of MDA-MB 231 cells, and has no effect itself on cell migration and no effect on cell viability. Teleocidin A2 further controls PAR2-induced actin cytoskeleton rearrangement of MDA-MB 231 cells. Thus, for the first time, the small molecule natural product teleocidin A2 exhibiting PAR2 antagonism in the low nanomolar range with potent antimigratory activity is described.