Significant decrease of decorin expression in human skin following short-term ultraviolet exposures

Proteoglycans in Normal and Healing Skin

Significance: Proteoglycans have a distinct spatial localization in normal skin and are essential for the correct structural development, organization, hydration, and functional properties of this tissue. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is no longer considered to be just an inert supportive material but is a source of directive, spatial and temporal, contextual information to the cells via components such as the proteoglycans. There is a pressing need to improve our understanding of how these important molecules functionally interact with other matrix structures, cells and cellular mediators in normal skin and during wound healing. Recent Advances: New antibodies to glycosaminoglycan side chain components of skin proteoglycans have facilitated the elucidation of detailed localization patterns within skin. Other studies have revealed important proliferative activities of proteinase-generated fragments of proteoglycans and other ECM components (matricryptins). Knockout mice have further established the functional importance of skin proteoglycans in the assembly and homeostasis of the normal skin ECM. Critical Issues: Our comprehension of the molecular and structural complexity of skin as a complex, dynamic, constantly renewing, layered connective tissue is incomplete. The impact of changes in proteoglycans on skin pathology and the wound healing process is recognized as an important area of pathobiology and is an area of intense investigation. Future Directions: Advanced technology is allowing the development of new artificial skins. Recent knowledge on skin proteoglycans can be used to incorporate these molecules into useful adjunct therapies for wound healing and for maintenance of optimal tissue homeostasis in aging skin.

Increased fibroblast proliferation and activity after applying intense pulsed light 800-1200 nm

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Light devices emitting near infrared have been shown to be highly effective for the skin rejuvenation but biochemical and molecular mechanism or optimum dose treatment are not well-known. In our study we try to elucidate why systems emitting near infrared produce skin improvement such as fibroblasts proliferation, increase in gene expression or extracellular matrix (ECM) protein production.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

1BR3G human skin fibroblasts were used to test the effects of an intense pulsed light device emitting with an 800-1200 nm filter (MiniSilk FT manufactured by Deka(®)). In our protocol, fibroblasts were irradiated twice successively with a 10 Hz frequency, with a total fluence up to 60 J/cm(2) for 15s each pass. After incubating for 48 h, fibroblasts were harvested from the culture plates to test cell proliferation by flow cytometer. To determine changes in gene expression (mRNA levels for collagen types I and III and metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1)) and protein production (hyaluronic acid, versican and decorin) tests were performed after irradiation.

RESULTS

After 48 h irradiation, 1BR3G human skin fibroblasts were observed to proliferate at a fast rate. The study of ECM macromolecules production using ELISA showed an increase of hyaluronic acid and versican production but no changes were observed for decorin. With RT-PCR assays, an increase in mRNA for collagen type I, type III and MMP-1 were observed.

CONCLUSION

Intense pulsed light emitting near infrared applied in vitro cultured cells increases fibroblasts proliferation and activity, which can be a possible mechanism of action for these devices in aging skin treatment.

Granzyme B cleaves decorin, biglycan and soluble betaglycan, releasing active transforming growth factor-β1

Objective

Granzyme B (GrB) is a pro-apoptotic serine protease that contributes to immune-mediated target cell apoptosis. However, during inflammation, GrB accumulates in the extracellular space, retains its activity, and is capable of cleaving extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Recent studies have implicated a pathogenic extracellular role for GrB in cardiovascular disease, yet the pathophysiological consequences of extracellular GrB activity remain largely unknown. The objective of this study was to identify proteoglycan (PG) substrates of GrB and examine the ability of GrB to release PG-sequestered TGF-β1 into the extracellular milieu.

Methods/Results

Three extracellular GrB PG substrates were identified; decorin, biglycan and betaglycan. As all of these PGs sequester active TGF-β1, cytokine release assays were conducted to establish if GrB-mediated PG cleavage induced TGF-β1 release. Our data confirmed that GrB liberated TGF-β1 from all three substrates as well as from endogenous ECM and this process was inhibited by the GrB inhibitor 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin. The released TGF-β1 retained its activity as indicated by the induction of SMAD-3 phosphorylation in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells.

Conclusion

In addition to contributing to ECM degradation and the loss of tissue structural integrity in vivo, increased extracellular GrB activity is also capable of inducing the release of active TGF-β1 from PGs.

Transcriptional regulation of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycan chain-synthesizing glycosyltransferases by UV irradiation in cultured human dermal fibroblasts

Various kinds of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs) have been known to be involved in structural and space-filling functions, as well as many physiological regulations in skin. To investigate ultraviolet (UV) radiation-mediated regulation of GAGs and PGs in cultured human dermal fibroblasts, transcriptional changes of many types of PGs and GAG chain-synthesizing enzymes at 18 hr after 75 mJ/cm(2) of UV irradiation were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction methods. Hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS)-1, -2, and -3 and hyaluronidase-2 mRNA expressions were significantly increased by UV irradiation. Expressions of lumican, fibromodulin, osteoglycin, syndecan-2, perlecan, agrin, versican, decorin, and biglycan were significantly decreased by UV irradiation, while syndecan-1 was increased. Expressions of GAG chain-synthesizing glycosyltransferases, xylosyltransferase-1, β1,3-glucuronyltransferase-1, β1,4-galactosyltransferase-2, -4, exostosin-1, chondroitin polymerizing factor, and chondroitin sulfate synthase-3 were significantly reduced, whereas those of β1,3-galactosyltransferase-6, β1,4-galactosyltransferase-3, -7, β-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltran sferase-2, and -7 were increased by UV irradiation. Heparanase-1 mRNA expression was increased, but that of heparanase-2 was reduced by UV irradiation. Time-course investigation of representative genes showed consistent results. In conclusion, UV irradiation may increase hyaluronic acid production through HAS induction, and decrease other GAG productions through downregulation of PG core proteins and GAG chain-synthesizing glycosyltransferases in cultured human dermal fibroblasts.