The development of hair follicles and nail.

The hair follicle and nail unit develop and regenerate through epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Here, we review some of the key signals and molecular interactions that regulate mammalian hair follicle and nail formation during embryonic development and how these interactions are reutilized to promote their regeneration during adult homeostasis and in response to skin wounding. Finally, we highlight the role of some of these signals in mediating human hair follicle and nail conditions.

Indirubin-3'-alkoxime derivatives for upregulation of Wnt signaling through dual inhibition of GSK-3ß and the CXXC5-Dvl interaction.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) appears to be ordinarily expressed, and functionally redundant in Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. The Wnt proteins induce transduction of a cytoplasmic protein, Dishevelled (Dvl) which negatively modulates GSK-3ß activity. CXXC5 is a negative modulator of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling through the interaction with Dvl in the cytosol. This indicates that Wnt/ß-catenin signaling could be efficiently modulated by controlling GSK-3ß and the CXXC5-Dvl interaction. In this study, we designed a series of indirubin-3'-oxime and indirubin-3'-alkoxime derivatives containing various functional groups at the 5- or 6-position (R1) alongside alkyl or benzylic moieties at the 3'-oxime position (R2). These activate Wnt signaling through inhibitions of both GSK-3ß and the CXXC5-Dvl protein-protein interaction, in addition, the improvement of pharmacological properties. The potent activity profiles of the synthesized compounds suggested that dual inhibition of GSK-3ß and the CXXC5-Dvl interaction could be an appropriate approach towards safely and efficientlyactivating Wntsignaling. Thus, dual-targeting inhibitors are potentially better candidates for efficient activation ofWntsignaling compared to GSK-3ß inhibitors.

Suppression of Wnt/ß-catenin and RAS/ERK pathways provides a therapeutic strategy for gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a major malignant tumor without an effective treatment. KRAS mutations occur in 90% of the pancreatic cancer patients and are a major obstacle for treatment of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer patients have been treated with limited chemotherapeutic agents such as gemcitabine. However, patients often develop resistance to gemcitabine that is attributed to KRAS mutations. Gemcitabine treatment activates both the Wnt/ß-catenin and RAS/ERK pathways. These signaling pathways are also activated in the gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines, suggesting that they play an important role in gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer. The gemcitabine-resistant cell lines show enhanced migratory and invasive capabilities than their parental lines. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a small molecule, KYA1797K that degrades both ß-catenin and RAS, on pancreatic cancer. KYA1797K decreased the expression level of both ß-catenin and KRAS in pancreatic cancer cell lines expressing either wild-type or mutant KRAS. It also suppressed migration and invasion of gemcitabine-resistant and parental pancreatic cancer cells. Overall, we demonstrated that inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin and RAS/ERK pathways by destabilizing ß-catenin and RAS could be a therapeutic approach to overcome gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer.

Polygonum aviculare L. and its active compounds, quercitrin hydrate, caffeic acid, and rutin, activate the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and induce cutaneous wound healing.

Polygonum aviculare L. is a member of the Polygonaceae family of plants, which has been known for its antioxidant and anti-obesity effects. However, the wound healing function of P. aviculare extract has not been assessed. In this study, we identified a novel property of P. aviculare extract as a Wnt/ß-catenin pathway activator based on a screen of 350 plant extracts using HEK293-TOP cells retaining the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling reporter gene. P. aviculare extract accelerated the migration of HaCaT keratinocytes without showing significant cytotoxicity. Moreover, P. aviculare extract efficiently re-epithelized wounds generated on mice. Additionally, ingredients of P. aviculare extract, such as quercitrin hydrate, caffeic acid, and rutin, also accelerated the motility of HaCaT keratinocytes with the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Therefore, based on our findings, P. aviculare extract and its active ingredients could be potential therapeutic agents for wound healing. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dermal ß-Catenin Is Required for Hedgehog-Driven Hair Follicle Neogenesis.

Hair follicle neogenesis (HFN) occurs after large skin excisions in mice, serving as a rare regenerative model in mammalian wound healing. Wound healing typically results in fibrosis in mice and humans. We previously showed that small skin excisions in mice result in scarring devoid of HFN, displaying features of nonregenerative healing, and hedgehog (Hh) activation in the dermis of such wounds can induce HFN. In this study, we sought to verify the role of dermal Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in HFN because this pathway is essential for hair follicle development but is also paradoxically well-characterized in fibrosis of adult wounds. By deletion of ß-catenin in large wound myofibroblasts, we show that Wnt/ß-catenin signaling is required for endogenous mechanisms of HFN. By utilizing a combined mouse model that simultaneously induces deletion of ß-catenin and constitutive activation of Smoothened in myofibroblasts, we also found that ß-catenin is required for Hh-driven dermal papilla formation. Transcriptome analysis confirms that Wnt/ß-catenin and Hh pathways are activated in dermal papilla cells. Our results indicate that Wnt-active fibrotic status may also create a permissive state for the regenerative function of Hh, suggesting that activation of both Wnt and Hh pathways in skin wound fibroblasts must be ensured in future strategies to promote HFN.

High-Speed Clearing and High-Resolution Staining for Analysis of Various Markers for Neurons and Vessels.

BACKGROUND: Tissue clearing enables deep imaging in various tissues by increasing the transparency of tissues, but there were limitations of immunostaining of the large-volume tissues such as the whole brain. METHODS: Here, we cleared and immune-stained whole mouse brain tissues using a novel clearing technique termed high-speed clearing and high-resolution staining (HCHS). We observed neural structures within the cleared brains using both a confocal microscope and a light-sheet fluorescence microscope (LSFM). The reconstructed 3D images were analyzed using a computational reconstruction algorithm. RESULTS: Various neural structures were well observed in three-dimensional (3D) images of the cleared brains from Gad-green fluorescent protein (GFP) mice and Thy 1-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) mice. The intrinsic fluorescence signals of both transgenic mice were preserved after HCHS. In addition, large-scale 3D imaging of brains, immune-stained by the HCHS method using a mild detergent-based solution, allowed for the global topological analysis of several neuronal markers such as c-Fos, neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN), Microtubule-associated protein 2 (Map2), Tuj1, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in various anatomical regions in the whole mouse brain tissues. Finally, through comparisons with various existing tissue clearing methodologies such as CUBIC, Visikol, and 3DISCO, it was confirmed that the HCHS methodology results in relatively less tissue deformation and higher fluorescence retention. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the development of 3D imaging based on novel tissue-clearing techniques (HCHS) will enable detailed spatial analysis of neural and vascular networks present within the brain.

Adhesive Hydrogel Patch-Mediated Combination Drug Therapy Induces Regenerative Wound Healing through Reconstruction of Regenerative Microenvironment.

Regenerative wound healing involves the scarless wound healing as observed in fetal skin. Multiple features of regenerative wound healing have been well studied; however, the practical application of pro-regenerative materials to recapitulate the regenerative wound healing in adult skins has not yet been achieved. In this study, the authors identified that their novel pro-regenerative material, pyrogallol-functionalized hyaluronic acid (HA-PG) patches in combination with protein transduction domain-fused Dishevelled (Dvl)-binding motif (PTD-DBM), a peptide inhibiting the CXXC-type zinc finger protein 5 (CXXC5)-Dvl interaction, promoted regenerative wound healing in mice. The HA-PG patches loaded with this competitor peptide and valproic acid (VPA), a glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß) inhibitor, significantly inhibited scar formation during wound healing. The HA-PG patches with PTD-DBM and/or VPA inhibit the expression of differentiated cell markers such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) while inducing the expression of stem cell markers such as CD105 and Nestin. Moreover, Collagen III, an important factor for regenerative healing, is critically induced by the HA-PG patches with PTD-DBM and/or VPA, as also seen in VPA-treated Cxxc5-/- mouse fibroblasts. Overall, these findings suggest that the novel regeneration-promoting material can be utilized as a potential therapeutic agent to promote both wound healing and scar attenuation.

CXXC5 Mediates DHT-Induced Androgenetic Alopecia via PGD2.

The number of people suffering from hair loss is increasing, and hair loss occurs not only in older men but also in women and young people. Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is a well-known alopecia inducer. However, the mechanism by which PGD2 induces alopecia is poorly understood. In this study, we characterized CXXC5, a negative regulator of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, as a mediator for hair loss by PGD2. The hair loss by PGD2 was restored by Cxxc5 knock-out or treatment of protein transduction domain-Dishevelled binding motif (PTD-DBM), a peptide activating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway via interference with the Dishevelled (Dvl) binding function of CXXC5. In addition, suppression of neogenic hair growth by PGD2 was also overcome by PTD-DBM treatment or Cxxc5 knock-out as shown by the wound-induced hair neogenesis (WIHN) model. Moreover, we found that CXXC5 also mediates DHT-induced hair loss via PGD2. DHT-induced hair loss was alleviated by inhibition of both GSK-3ß and CXXC5 functions. Overall, CXXC5 mediates the hair loss by the DHT-PGD2 axis through suppression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

Blockade of CXXC5-dishevelled interaction inhibits adipogenic differentiation, obesity, and insulin resistance in mice.

Obesity has become a major risk factor for developing metabolic diseases, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Growing pieces of evidence indicate that the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in adipogenesis and obesity. Activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway inhibits adipogenesis by suppressing the differentiation of committed preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. CXXC5 is highly induced with suppression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in early adipogenic differentiation. In addition, silencing CXXC5 in vitro increased ß-catenin and decremented the major adipogenic differentiation markers. KY19334, a small molecule that activates the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway via inhibition of CXXC5- Dishevelled (Dvl) protein-protein interaction (PPI), suppressed adipogenic differentiation. Administration of KY19334 ameliorated obesity by 26 ± 1.3% and insulin resistance by 23.45 ± 7.09% and reduced adipocyte hypertrophy by 80.87 ± 5.30% in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. In addition, KY19334 accelerated the browning of adipose tissue and promoted hepatic glucose homeostasis in HFD-fed mice. In conclusion, activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling by inhibiting the interaction of CXXC5 and Dvl by small molecule-mediated interference is a potential therapeutic approach for treating obesity and insulin resistance.

Metabolic improvement and liver regeneration by inhibiting CXXC5 function for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis treatment.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease that results from multiple metabolic disorders. Considering the complexity of the pathogenesis, the identification of a factor mediating the multiple pathogenic phenotypes of NASH will be important for treatment. In this study, we found that CXXC5, a negative feedback regulator of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, was overexpressed with suppression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and its target genes involved in hepatic metabolism in obese-NASH patients. Cxxc5-/- mice were found to be resistant to NASH pathogenesis with metabolic improvements. KY19334, a small molecule that activates the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway via interference of the CXXC5-Dvl interaction, reversed the overall pathogenic features of NASH as Cxxc5-/- mice. The improvement in NASH by KY19334 is attributed to its regenerative effects through restorative activation of the suppressed Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Overall, the pronounced metabolic improvements with the stimulation of liver regeneration by interfering with the CXXC5-Dvl interaction provide a therapeutic approach for NASH.

Inhibition of CXXC5 function reverses obesity-related metabolic diseases.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, have long been considered incurable, chronic conditions resulting from a variety of pathological conditions in obese patients. Growing evidence suggests the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway is a major pathway in adipose tissue remodelling, pancreatic ß-cell regeneration and energy expenditure through regulation of key metabolic target genes in various tissues. CXXC5-type zinc finger protein 5 (CXXC5) is identified negative feedback regulator of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway that functions via Dishevelled (Dvl) binding. METHODS: Expression level of CXXC5 was characterised in clinical samples and diabetes-induced mice model. Diabetes-induced mice model was established by using high-fat diet (HFD). HFD-fed mice treated with KY19334, a small molecule inhibiting CXXC5-Dvl protein-protein interaction (PPI), was used to assess the role of CXXC5 in metabolic diseases. RESULTS: Here, we show that CXXC5 is overexpressed with suppression of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling in visceral adipose tissues of patients with obesity-related diabetes. Meanwhile, Cxxc5-/- mice fed an HFD exhibited resistance to metabolic dysregulation. KY19334 restores the lowered Wnt/ß-catenin signalling and reverses metabolic abnormalities as observed in HFD-fed Cxxc5-/- mice. Administration of KY19334 on HFD-fed mice had a long-lasting glucose-controlling effect through remodelling of adipocytes and regeneration of pancreatic ß-cells. CONCLUSION: Overall, the inhibition of CXXC5 function by small molecule-mediated interference of Dvl binding is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of obesity-related diabetes.

Pyruvate Kinase M2 Promotes Hair Regeneration by Connecting Metabolic and Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling.

Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) utilize glycolytic metabolism during their activation and anagen induction. However, the role of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), which catalyzes the final step of glycolysis, in hair regeneration has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern and activity of PKM2 during the depilation-induced anagen progression in mice. We found that TEPP-46, a selective activator of PKM2, enhanced hair re-growth and proliferation of HFSCs. PKM2 expression was increased via up-regulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, which is involved in hair regeneration. Moreover, a combined treatment with KY19382, a small molecule that activates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, and TEPP-46 significantly enhanced hair re-growth and wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN). These results indicate that simultaneous activation of the PKM2 and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling could be a potential strategy for treating alopecia patients.

Wnt/ß-catenin signaling activator restores hair regeneration suppressed by diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent diseases in modern society. Many complicationssuch as hepatic cirrhosis, neuropathy, cardiac infarction, and so on are associated with diabetes. Although a relationship between diabetes and hair loss has been recently reported, the treatment of diabetic hair loss by Wnt/ß-catenin activators has not been achieved yet. In this study, we found that the depilation-induced anagen phase was delayed in both db/db mice and high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. In diabetic mice, both hair regrowth and wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN) were reduced because of suppression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and decreased proliferation of hair follicle cells. We identified that KY19382, a small molecule that activates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, restored the capabilities of regrowth and WIHN in diabetic mice. The Wnt/ß-catenin signaling activator also increased the length of the human hair follicle which was decreased under high glucose culture conditions. Overall, the diabetic condition reduced both hair regrowth and regeneration with suppression of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Consequently, the usage of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling activators could be a potential strategy to treat diabetes-induced alopecia patients. [BMB Reports 2022; 55(11): 559-564].

N-Nicotinoyl dopamine, a novel niacinamide derivative, retains high antioxidant activity and inhibits skin pigmentation.

We synthesized a novel derivative of a well-known skin-lightening compound niacinamide, N-nicotinoyl dopamine (NND). NND did not show inhibitory effects of tyrosinase and melanin synthesis in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. However, NND retains high antioxidant activity without affecting viability of cells. In a reconstructed skin model, topical applications of 0.05% and 0.1% NND induced skin lightening and decreased melanin production without affecting the viability and morphology of melanocytes and overall tissue histology. Moreover, no evidence for skin irritation or sensitization was observed when 0.1% NND emulsion was applied onto the skin of 52 volunteers. The effect of NND on skin lightening was further revealed by pigmented spot analyses of human clinical trial. Overall, NND treatment may be a useful trial for skin lightening and treating pigmentary disorders.

Wnt5a is required for endothelial differentiation of embryonic stem cells and vascularization via pathways involving both Wnt/beta-catenin and protein kinase Calpha.

In this study, we examined the signaling pathways activated by Wnt5a in endothelial differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells and the function of Wnt5a during vascular development. We first found that Wnt5a(-/-) mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells exhibited a defect in endothelial differentiation, which was rescued by addition of Wnt5a, suggesting that Wnt5a is required for endothelial differentiation of ES cells. Involvement of both beta-catenin and protein kinase (PK)Calpha pathways in endothelial differentiation of mES cells requiring Wnt5a was indicated by activation of both beta-catenin and PKCalpha in Wnt5a(+/-) but not in Wnt5a(-/-) mES cells. We also found that beta-catenin or PKCalpha knockdowns inhibited the Wnt5a-induced endothelial differentiation of ES cells. Moreover, the lack of endothelial differentiation of Wnt5a(-/-) mES cells was rescued only by transfection of both beta-catenin and PKCalpha, indicating that both genes are required for Wnt5a-mediated endothelial differentiation. Wnt5a was also found to be essential for the differentiation of mES cells into immature endothelial progenitor cells, which are known to play a role in repair of damaged endothelium. Furthermore, a defect in the vascularization of the neural tissue was detected at embryonic day 14.5 in Wnt5a(-/-) mice, implicating Wnt5a in vascular development in vivo. Thus, we conclude that Wnt5a is involved in the endothelial differentiation of ES cells via both Wnt/beta-catenin and PKC signaling pathways and regulates embryonic vascular development.

Persicaria hydropiper (L.) spach and its flavonoid components, isoquercitrin and isorhamnetin, activate the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and inhibit adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells.

Obesity, which is related to metabolic syndrome and is associated with liver disease, represents an epidemic problem demanding effective therapeutic strategies. Evidence shows that the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway is closely associated with obesity and that small molecules regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway can potentially control adipogenesis related to obesity. Eleven plant extracts activating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway were screened by using HEK 293-TOP cells retaining the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling reporter gene. An extract of Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Spach was found to activate Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. P. hydropiper is grown worldwide in temperate climates and is found widely in Southeast Asia. The P. hydropiper extract inhibited the differentiation of adipocyte 3T3-L1 cells. Isoquercitrin and isorhamnetin, constituents of P. hydropiper, also activated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and suppressed the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. These results indicate that isoquercitrin in P. hydropiper suppresses the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells via the inhibition of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. P. hydropiper and isoquercitrin may therefore be potential therapeutic agents for obesity and its associated disorders.

KY19382, a novel activator of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling, promotes hair regrowth and hair follicle neogenesis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The promotion of hair regeneration and growth heavily depends on the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling in the hair follicle, including dermal papilla (DP). KY19382, one of the newly synthesized analogues of indirubin-3'-monoxime (I3O), was identified as a Wnt/ß-catenin signalling activator via inhibition of the interaction between CXXC-type zinc finger protein 5 (CXXC5) and dishevelled (Dvl). Given the close relationship between the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling and hair regeneration, we investigated the effect of KY19382 on hair regrowth and hair follicle neogenesis. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In vitro hair induction effects of KY19382 were performed in human DP cells. The hair elongation effects of KY19382 were confirmed through the human hair follicle and vibrissa culture system. In vivo hair regeneration abilities of KY19382 were identified in three models: hair regrowth, wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN) and hair patch assays using C57BL/6 mice. The hair regeneration abilities were analysed by immunoblotting, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and immunohistochemical staining. KEY RESULTS: KY19382 activated Wnt/ß-catenin signalling and elevated expression of ALP and the proliferation marker PCNA in DP cells. KY19382 also increased hair length in ex vivo-cultured mouse vibrissa and human hair follicles and induced hair regrowth in mice. Moreover, KY19382 significantly promoted the generation of de novo hair follicles as shown by WIHN and hair patch assays. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These results indicate that KY19382 is a potential therapeutic drug that exhibits effective hair regeneration ability via activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling for alopecia treatments.

Deletion of phospholipase D1 decreases bone mass and increases fat mass via modulation of Runx2, ß-catenin-osteoprotegerin, PPAR-γ and C/EBPα signaling axis.

In osteoporosis, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) prefer to differentiate into adipocytes at the expense of osteoblasts. Although the balance between adipogenesis and osteogenesis has been closely examined, the mechanism of commitment determination switch is unknown. Here we demonstrate that phospholipase D1 (PLD1) plays a key switch in determining the balance between bone and fat mass. Ablation of Pld1 reduced bone mass but increased fat in mice. Mechanistically, Pld1/- MSCs inhibited osteoblast differentiaion with diminished Runx2 expression, while osteoclast differentiation was accelerated in Pld1-/- bone marrow-derived macrophages. Pld1-/- osteoblasts showed decreased expression of osteogenic makers. Increased number and resorption activity of osteoclasts in Pld1-/- mice were corroborated with upregulation of osteoclastogenic markers. Moreover, Pld1-/- osteoblasts reduced ß-catenin mediated-osteoprotegerin (OPG) with increased RANKL/OPG ratio which resulted in accelerated osteoclast differentiation. Thus, low bone mass with upregulated osteoclasts could be due to the contribution of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts during bone remodeling. Moreover, ablation of Pld1 further increased bone loss in ovariectomized mice, suggesting that PLD1 is a negative regulator of osteoclastogenesis. Furthermore, loss of PLD1 increased adipogenesis, body fat mass, and hepatic steatosis along with upregulation of PPAR-γ and C/EBPα. Interestingly, adipocyte-specific Pld1 transgenic mice rescued the compromised phenotypes of fat mass and adipogenesis in Pld1 knockout mice. Collectively, PLD1 regulated the bifurcating pathways of mesenchymal cell lineage into increased osteogenesis and decreased adipogenesis, which uncovered a previously unrecognized role of PLD1 in homeostasis between bone and fat mass.

Antiviral efficacy of orally delivered neoagarohexaose, a nonconventional TLR4 agonist, against norovirus infection in mice.

The neoagarohexaose (NA6) is an oligosaccharide that is derived from agarose, the major component of red algae cell walls, by enzymatic hydrolysis. Here we show that NA6 is a noncanonical Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist with antiviral activity against norovirus. Its TLR4 activation was dependent on myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) and cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), leading to interferon-ß (IFN-ß) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production. This effect was abolished by TLR4 knockdown or knockout in murine macrophages. NA6 inhibited murine norovirus (MNV) replication with an EC50 of 1.5 µM in RAW264.7 cells. It also lowered viral RNA titer in a human hepatocellular carcinoma Huh7-derived cell line harboring a human norovirus subgenomic replicon. The antiviral activity of NA6 was mainly attributed to IFN-ß produced through the TLR4-TRIF signaling pathway. NA6-induced TNF-α, which had little effect on norovirus replication per se, primed macrophages to mount greater antiviral innate immune responses when IFN signaling was activated. NA6 boosted the induction of IFN-ß in MNV-infected RAW264.7 cells and upregulated IFN-regulatory factor-1, an IFN-stimulated gene. NA6 induced IFN-ß expression in the distal ileum with Peyer's patches and oral administration of NA6 reduced MNV loads through activation of TLR4 signaling, highlighting its potential contribution to protective antiviral innate immunity against norovirus.

Dissecting Wnt Signaling for Melanocyte Regulation during Wound Healing.

Abnormal pigmentation is commonly seen in the wound scar. Despite advancements in the research of wound healing, little is known about the repopulation of melanocytes in the healed skin. Previous studies have shown the capacity of melanocyte stem cells in the hair follicle to contribute skin epidermal melanocytes after injury in mice and humans. Here, we focused on the Wnt pathway, known to be a vital regulator of melanocyte stem cells in efforts to better understand the regulation of follicle-derived epidermal melanocytes during wound healing. We showed that transgenic expression of Wnt inhibitor Dkk1 in melanocytes reduced epidermal melanocytes in the wound scar. Conversely, forced activation of Wnt signaling by genetically stabilizing ß-catenin in melanocytes increases epidermal melanocytes. Furthermore, we show that deletion of Wntless (Wls), a gene required for Wnt ligand secretion, within epithelial cells results in failure in activating Wnt signaling in adjacent epidermal melanocytes. These results show the essential function of extrinsic Wnt ligands in initiating Wnt signaling in follicle-derived epidermal melanocytes during wound healing. Collectively, our results suggest the potential for Wnt signal regulation to promote melanocyte regeneration and provide a potential molecular window to promote proper melanocyte regeneration after wounding and in conditions such as vitiligo.