Genkwadaphnin induces reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells.

Genkwadaphnin is a daphnane diterpene ester molecule isolated from the flower buds of Daphne genkwa. In the present study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing effect of genkwadaphnin in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. Apoptosis was triggered in SCC12 cells following genkwadaphnin treatment in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Genkwadaphnin treatment increased phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Knockdown of JNK and p38 MAPK by recombinant adenovirus expressing microRNA (miR) resulted in significant inhibition of genkwadaphnin-induced apoptosis in SCC12 cells. Finally, pretreatment with the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) markedly reduced SCC12 cell apoptosis, concomitant with significant inhibition of MAPK activation. These results indicate that genkwadaphnin has the potential to induce apoptosis in SCC cells, providing information on which to base further research with the aim of developing a cure for SCC.

Stimulation of mouse hair regrowth by exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for new treatments to solve hair loss problem. As mesenchymal stem cells were proved to have effects on promoting tissue repair and regeneration, in which the exosome plays a vital role, we aim to investigate the influence of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells exosome (UCMSC-Exos) on hair growth and its mechanism. METHODS: The hUCMSC-Exos were extracted by ultracentrifugation. Primary fibroblasts were cultured with or without hUCMSC-Exos and cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. C57BL/6 mice model of depilation-induced hair regrowth was treated with either hUCMSC-Exos (200 µg/mL) or PBS on one side of the dorsal back. Real time quantitative PCR, flow cytometry analysis, immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescent staining were used to analyze the regulative effect of hUCMSC-Exos on hair follicle stem/progenitor cells and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. RESULTS: The proliferation of fibroblasts incubated with hUCMSC-Exos at the concentration of 200 µg/mL was greater than other groups. Treatment with hUCMSC-Exos resulted in rapid reentry into anagen. Hair follicle stem/progenitor cell markers (K15, Lgr5, Lgr6, CD34 and Lrig1) and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway related factors (Wnt5, Lef1, Lrp5 and ß-catenin) were increased in hUCMSC-Exos-injected region. CONCLUSION: hUCMSC-Exos promote fibroblasts proliferation and accelerate mouse hair regrowth by upregulating hair follicle stem/progenitor cell and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, which suggests potential therapeutic approaches for hair loss disorders.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine-induced interleukin-6 production is mediated by protein kinase C and p42/44 extracellular signal-regulated kinase in human dermal fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) has been reported as a novel lipid mediator that exerts various actions on wound healing process. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the involvement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in SPC-induced wound healing acceleration. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical analysis to demonstrate the IL-6 induction by SPC. To analyze the signaling events, skin fibroblasts were treated with SPC, and then RT-PCR, ELISA and Western blot analyses were carried out. RESULTS: SPC markedly induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in rabbit ear wound. SPC also induced IL-6 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in human dermal fibroblasts cultured in vitro. SPC rapidly phosphorylated p42/44 extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Pretreatment with PD 98059, a specific MAPK kinase 1/2 inhibitor, markedly suppressed SPC-induced IL-6 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) potentiated IL-6 mRNA expression, whereas PKC inhibition by bisindolylmaleimide blocked SPC-induced p42/44 ERK phosphorylation and IL-6 expression. Over-expression of PKCalpha markedly induced the IL-6 expression and p42/44 ERK activation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SPC-induced IL-6 production is mediated by PKC-dependent p42/44 ERK activation in human dermal fibroblasts cultured in vitro.

Sox9 is a ß-catenin-regulated transcription factor that enhances the colony-forming activity of squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common skin cancer, of which the incidence is relatively high, ranking second among the non­melanoma skin cancers. It is known that numerous intracellular signal regulators are involved in the pathogenesis of SCC. The Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway serves an important role in cancer development. However, the downstream effectors of ß­catenin remain to be clearly elucidated yet. The present study investigated the functional importance of Wnt/ß­catenin signaling in cutaneous SCC. ß­catenin expression was reduced using recombinant adenovirus expressing specific microRNA (miR). Knockdown of ß­catenin resulted in a marked reduction of the colony-forming activity of the SCC cells, SCC12. In an attempt to identify the ß­catenin downstream genes, it was found that Sox9 was regulated by ß­catenin in SCC12 cells. Overexpression of a constitutively active form of ß­catenin led to the induction of Sox9, while knockdown of ß­catenin resulted in downregulation of Sox9. When the expression of Sox9 was reduced using specific miR, colony-forming activity of the SCC12 cells was significantly reduced. When Sox9 was overexpressed in cells where ß­catenin was knocked down, it partially restored the colony­forming potential. Taken together, the present results suggested that Sox9 is a ß-catenin downstream transcription factor and is positively involved in SCC development.

Signaling events during induction of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression by sphingosylphosphorylcholine in cultured human dermal fibroblasts.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite that can enhance wound healing. In a search for effectors downstream of SPC in the wound-healing process, we found that the expression of the gene for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was significantly affected. ELISA and western blot analyses showed that SPC markedly induced PAI-1 production in human dermal fibroblasts cultured in vitro. Inhibition by pre-treatment with pertussis toxin (PTx), but not by tyrphostin A47 (a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor), indicated that PTx-sensitive G proteins were involved in SPC-induced PAI-1 expression. SPC elicited a rapid and transient increase in intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i), measured using laser scanning confocal microscopy, which was partly mediated through PTx-sensitive G proteins. Pre-treatment with thapsigargin, but not with EGTA, abolished SPC-induced PAI-1 expression, indicating the importance of Ca2+ release from internal stores. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) induced the expression of PAI-1, and pre-treatment with Ro 31-8220 (a PKC inhibitor) markedly suppressed SPC-induced PAI-1 expression. SPC-induced PAI-1 expression was also significantly suppressed by PD98059 (a specific MAPK kinase 1/2 inhibitor). Consistent with this result, SPC stimulated the phosphorylation of p42/44 extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Together, these results suggest that SPC induces PAI-1 production through a G protein-coupled calcium increase and downstream kinase signaling events in cultured human dermal fibroblasts.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine stimulates cellular fibronectin expression through upregulation of IL-6 in cultured human dermal fibroblasts.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) has been reported to stimulate wound healing by its potent mitogenic effect. Fibronectin (FN) is a cell-adhesion protein that plays an important role in cell migration and collagen deposition during wound healing. In order to elucidate further the mechanism involved in the accelerated wound healing stimulated by SPC, we studied the role of SPC in FN production in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. We demonstrated that SPC dose- and time-dependently enhanced the expression of FN in human dermal fibroblast at the protein and mRNA levels. IL-6 is known to stimulate the production of FN in fibroblasts. SPC also markedly induced IL-6 production in cultured human dermal fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent manner. We also demonstrated that FN mRNA expression in human dermal fibroblasts was upregulated 4 h after IL-6 treatment. Moreover, pretreatment with neutralizing anti-IL-6 antibodies partially blocked the upregulation of FN mRNA expression induced by SPC in human dermal fibroblasts. These results indicate that SPC may stimulate FN synthesis through IL-6 production in cultured human dermal fibroblasts.

Identification of calcium-induced genes in HaCaT keratinocytes by polymerase chain reaction-based subtractive hybridization.

Suppression subtractive hybridization, a PCR-based method for cDNA subtraction, was used to identify differentially expressed genes in keratinocytes. Differentiation was induced by elevating the calcium level in the cell culture medium. Using HaCaT immortalized keratinocytes cultured in the presence of a high calcium concentration, we isolated 60 clones representing 48 different genes. By reverse Northern analysis, 13 genes were scored as overexpressed in these HaCaT cells. Northern blot analysis was used to confirm differential gene expression. Six genes, keratin 1, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2), ferritin H, peroxiredoxin 5 (PRDX5), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and one EST gene, were differentially expressed in HaCaT cells cultured in the presence of a high calcium concentration. Two of these genes, keratin 1 and PAI-2, are differentially expressed during keratinocyte terminal differentiation. IGFBP-3, which has reduced expression during epidermal differentiation, was increased after culture in a high-calcium medium for 2 or 5 days. Overexpression of the ferritin H and PRDX5 genes due to elevated calcium has not been reported in keratinocytes. We demonstrated the expression of IGFBP-3, ferritin H, PRDX5, and one gene of a matching sequence from the EST database during differentiation in primary cultured normal human keratinocytes. The EST gene expressed two transcripts of 1.8 kb and 2.5 kb in HaCaT cells, and the transcripts were confirmed to increase in keratinocytes cultured in a high-calcium medium.

Development of abnormal gait detection and vibratory stimulation system on lower limbs to improve gait stability.

The purpose of this study is to develop an abnormal gait detection algorithm and a vibratory stimulation system on a lower limb to improve gait stability and prevent falls. The system consists of a gait measurement module, an abnormal gait detection module, and a vibratory stimulation module. The gait measurement module measures the vertical acceleration of the ankle during walking using an accelerometer. The measured acceleration values are sent to a portable microcontroller, which controls vibratory stimulations to the ankles based on an algorithm that detects the peak acceleration values. If the acceleration peaks are found to occur irregularly, the abnormal gait detection algorithm activates the vibratory stimulation module. To determine the effect of vibratory stimulations under dynamic condition, this study investigated the contribution of ankle muscle proprioception on the control of dynamic stability and lower limb kinematics while walking using vibratory stimulation to alter the muscle spindle output of individuals' left lower limb. Vibrators were attached to the left ankle joint (tibialis anterior, triceps surae). Participants were required to walk along a travel path and step over an obstacle placed in their way. There were four task conditions; an obstacle (10%, 20%, and 30% of the participants' height) was positioned at the midpoint of the walkway, or the participants' walking path remained clear. For each obstacle condition, participants experienced either no vibration, or vibration of the tibialis anterior muscle and the triceps surae muscle of the left lower limb. Vibration began upon detection of an abnormal gait and continued for one second. Vibrating the ankle muscles of the left lower limb while stepping over an obstacle resulted in significant changes in COM behavior on both the anterior/posterior (A/P) and medial/lateral (M/L) planes. The results provide strong evidence that the primary endings of the ankle muscle spindles play a significant role in the control of posture and balance during the swing phase of locomotion by providing information on the movement of the body's COM with respect to the support foot.

Brn2 is a transcription factor regulating keratinocyte differentiation with a possible role in the pathogenesis of lichen planus.

Terminal differentiation of skin keratinocytes is a vertically directed multi-step process that is tightly controlled by the sequential expression of a variety of genes. In this study, we investigated the role of the POU domain-containing transcription factor Brn2 in keratinocyte differentiation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that Brn2 is expressed primarily in the upper granular layer. Consistent with its epidermal localization, Brn2 expression was highly induced at 14 days after calcium treatment of cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes. When Brn2 was overexpressed by adenoviral transduction, Brn2 led to increased expression of the differentiation-related genes involucrin, filaggrin, and loricrin in addition to inhibition of their proliferation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated that Brn2 bound to the promoter regions of these differentiation-related genes. We injected the purified Brn2 adenovirus into rat skin, which led to a thickened epidermis with increased amounts of differentiation related markers. The histopathologic features of adenovirus-Brn2 injected skin tissues looked similar to the features of lichen planus, a human skin disease showing chronic inflammation and well-differentiated epidermal changes. Moreover, Brn2 is shown to be expressed in almost all cell nuclei of the thickened epidermis of lichen planus, and Brn2 also attracts T lymphocytes. Our results demonstrate that Brn2 is probably a transcriptional factor playing an important role in keratinocyte differentiation and probably also in the pathogenesis of lichen planus lesions.

Experimental studies on the training of postural control using an unstable platform.

We performed experimental studies on the training of postural control using a training system which consists of an unstable platform, a computer, a computer interface, a monitoring device, and training programs. Using this system with the training programs that we have developed, we performed a variety of experiments of training the abilities of postural control of subjects. To evaluate the effects of the training, the parameters on how long a subject can maintain a focus on a target, the mean absolute deviation of the trace, and the fatigue of the muscles in lower limbs were measured. The experimental results showed that the training system can improve the ability of postural control of the subject. Therefore, the training system could be applied to clinical rehabilitation training for posture control as a new balance training system.

Involvement of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in sphingosylphosphorylcholine-induced angiogenesis.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) has been shown to accelerate wound healing. As angiogenesis is fundamental to proper wound healing, we examined the effect of SPC on angiogenesis using a well-established rat aortic ring assay. SPC significantly stimulated the sprouting of endothelial cells from rat aortic ring. Recognizing its potential effect on angiogenesis, we further investigated the action of SPC using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured in vitro. SPC significantly accelerated the closure of in vitro wound. In addition, SPC markedly enhanced the chemotactic migration and capillary-like tube formation. Subsequently, we examined whether SPC affected the production of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), an important regulator of angiogenesis, and found that SPC stimulated the expression of uPA at both the transcriptional and translational levels. Consistent with these results, SPC increased the activity of cell-surface-associated plasminogen activator. Pretreatment with antiuPA antibody significantly diminished both the chemotactic migration and capillary-like tube formation, indicating the potential importance of uPA in SPC-induced angiogenesis. Together, these results suggest that SPC may affect angiogenesis in the wound-healing process via regulation of uPA production.

Identification of calcium-inducible genes in primary keratinocytes using suppression-subtractive hybridization.

Terminal differentiation in epidermal keratinocytes involves major biochemical changes including the expression of many new differentiation-specific genes. To further understand this process, we performed suppression-subtractive hybridization of keratinocytes cultured under high-calcium condition, known to induce differentiation in vitro. We randomly isolated 300 clones representing 90 different genes. By reverse Northern blot analyses, 20 different genes were found to be overexpressed, of which 13 were confirmed as differentially expressed genes during keratinocyte differentiation by Northern blot analysis. Of those, five genes, transglutaminase 1, keratin 6, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, kallikrein 7, and heat shock protein 27, are known to be up-regulated during epidermal differentiation. Six genes, ferritin-L chain, ribosomal protein S6, tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2, neuroendocrine secretory protein 55, phosphoserine aminotransferase, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, heretofore were not known to be up-regulated during keratinocyte differentiation. We also identified two novel genes. One of these maps to chromosome 1q21 of the epidermal differentiation complex, and its expression level was strongly increased in differentiating keratinocytes. These differentially expressed genes may provide significant opportunities for further understanding of the epidermal keratinocyte differentiation.