Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor as an Immediate-Early Activator of Ultraviolet-Induced Skin Injury

Current insights and future perspectives of ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure: Friends and foes to the skin and beyond the skin

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is ubiquitous in the environment, which has been classified as an established human carcinogen. As the largest and outermost organ of the body, direct exposure of skin to sunlight or UV radiation can result in sunburn, inflammation, photo-immunosuppression, photoaging and even skin cancers. To date, there are tactics to protect the skin by preventing UV radiation and reducing the amount of UV radiation to the skin. Nevertheless, deciphering the essential regulatory mechanisms may pave the way for therapeutic interventions against UV-induced skin disorders. Additionally, UV light is considered beneficial for specific skin-related conditions in medical UV therapy. Recent evidence indicates that the biological effects of UV exposure extend beyond the skin and include the treatment of inflammatory diseases, solid tumors and certain abnormal behaviors. This review mainly focuses on the effects of UV on the skin. Moreover, novel findings of the biological effects of UV in other organs and systems are also summarized. Nevertheless, the mechanisms through which UV affects the human organism remain to be fully elucidated to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of its biological effects.

The beneficial effect of Sanhuang ointment and its active constituents on experimental hemorrhoids in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sanhuang ointment (SHO) has been widely used in the traditional Chinese medical system for 1500 years and has efficacy in clearing away heat and dampness, reducing swelling, and alleviating pain. Hemorrhoids will damage the normal physiological function of the body, resulting in obstructed defecation, accompanied by massive hemorrhage and necrosis of tissues and cells, which is easy to breed bacteria and cause infection. SHO can promote lesion healing in hemorrhoid rats, but the pharmacological mechanism underlying this effect remains unknown.

AIM

To evaluate the effect of SHO on experimental hemorrhoids in rats induced by croton oil and glacial acetic acid.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this research, the effective components of SHO were analyzed in detail by High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Hemorrhoids were induced by 6% balsam and glacial acetic acid respectively in the anorectal region of rats. SHO was administered externally to the anorectal region of rats at doses of 185 mg/g (crude drug/ointment), 370 mg/g (crude drug/ointment) and 740 mg/g (crude drug/ointment) for 11 days. Mayinglong musk hemorrhoids ointment (1 g/kg) and Taining cream (1 g/kg) were used as reference anti hemorrhoids drugs. On the 11th day, hemorrhoids were evaluated by measuring the biochemical parameters of hemorrhoids in rats and the histology of anorectal tissues.

RESULTS

Using high performance liquid chromatography liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, 41 compounds, including phenylpropionic acids and alkaloids, were identified. the fingerprints of 18 common peaks were identified. In Hemorrhoids like rats, acetic acid induced inflammation was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner during SHO treatment. In addition, the detailed experimental results show that SHO can effectively improve hemorrhoids by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines in serum, reversing the down-regulation of vanillin subtype 1 (TRPV1), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) levels of pain related genes in anal tissues, and the up regulation of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels of vascular growth related genes.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that SHO could alleviate the edema caused by the exudation of anorectal tissue fluid in rats by anti-inflammatory effect and reducing the Vascular permeability of rats. The study validates the traditional use of SHO in the treatment of hemorrhoids and demonstrates its anti-hemorrhoidal potential.

Luteolin photo-protects zebrafish from environmental stressor ultraviolet radiation (UVB)

Ultraviolet B wavelength ray radiation (UVB) is an environmental stressor with detrimental effects to the aquatic and human systems but also enhances adverse effects when combined with several other environmental factors such as temperature and pollution. UV rays induce cellular oxidative damage and impair motility. This study aimed to examine the photo-protective activity of flavonoid luteolin against UV-B irradiation-induced oxidative stress and cellular damage using zebrafish. An in-vivo photoaging model was established using UV-B irradiation in zebrafish larvae exposed to 100 mJ/cm2. Data demonstrated that UV-B irradiation of swimming water enhanced production of ROS and superoxide anions as well as depleted total glutathione levels in zebrafish larvae. UV-B irradiation also triggered cellular damage and membrane rupture in zebra fish. Further, 100 mJ/cm2 of UV-B radiation exposure to adult-wild type zebrafish co-exposed with intraperitoneally (ip) injected luteolin upregulated the local neuroendocrine axes by activating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and elevating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. Histologically, UV-B irradiation induced skin lesions and locomotory defects with clumping and degeneration of brain glial cells. However, luteolin effectively inhibited the excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased superoxide anion levels induced by UV-B irradiation. Luteolin restored the depleted glutathione levels. In addition, luteolin blocked apoptosis and lipidperoxidation. Luteolin protected adult zebrafish by downregulating the pro-inflammatory cytokine protein expression levels and diminishing VEGF activation. Luteolin also alleviated locomotory defects by inhibiting activation of microglia and inflammatory responses by preventing accumulation of glial cells and vacuolation. Data demonstrate that luteolin may protect zebrafish from UV-B-induced photodamage through DNA-protective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses.

Expression of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic genes in primary cutaneous melanoma: relationship with angiolymphatic invasion and disease-free survival

Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in the world. The main routes of tumor progression are related to angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. These routes can occur by local invasion, which is called angiolymphatic invasion (ALI). In this study, we assess gene expression of relevant biomarkers of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in 80 FFPE melanoma samples to determine a molecular profile that correlates with ALI, tumor progression, and disease-free survival. The results were enhanced by a posttranscriptional analysis by an immunofluorescence assay. Three SNPs in the VEGFR-2 gene were genotyped in 237 malignant melanoma (MM) blood DNA samples by qPCR. A significant correlation was found for LYVE -1 and ALI, qualitative ( P  = 0.017) and quantitative ( P  = 0.005). An increased expression of protein LIVE-1 in ALI samples supported these results ( P  = 0.032). VEGFR2 was lower in patients who showed disease progression ( P  = 0.005) and protein VEGFR2 posttranscriptional expression decreased ( P  = 0.016). DFS curves showed differences ( P  = 0.023) for VEGFR2 expression detected versus the absence of VEGFR2 expression. No significant influence on DFS was detected for the remaining analyzed genes. Cox regression analysis suggested that VEGFR2 expression has a protective role (HR = 0.728; 95% CI = 0.552-0.962; P  = 0.025) on disease progression. No significant association was found between any of the studied SNPs of VEGFR2 and DFS or progression rate. Our main results suggest that LYVE-1 gene expression is closely related to ALI; the relationship with the development of metastases in MM deserves further studies. Low expression of VEGFR2 was associated with disease progression and the expression of VEGFR2 correlates with an increased DFS.

Engineered NF-κB siRNA-encapsulating exosomes as a modality for therapy of skin lesions

Introduction

Despite the protection and management of skin has been paid more and more attention, effective countermeasures are still lacking for patients suffering from UV or chemotherapy with damaged skin. Recently, gene therapy by small interfering RNA (siRNA) has emerged as a new therapeutic strategy for skin lesions. However, siRNA therapy has not been applied to skin therapy due to lack of effective delivery vector.

Methods

Here, we develop a synthetic biology strategy that integrates the exosomes with artificial genetic circuits to reprogram the adipose mesenchymal stem cell to express and assemble siRNAs into exosomes and facilitate in vivo delivery siRNAs for therapy of mouse models of skin lesions.

Results

Particularly, siRNA enriched exosomes (si-ADMSC-EXOs) could be directly taken up by the skin cells to inhibit the expression of skin injury related genes. When mice with skin lesions were smeared with si-ADMSC-EXOs, the repair of lesioned skin became faster and the expression of inflammatory cytokines were decreased.

Discussion

Overall, this study establishes a feasible therapeutic strategy for skin injury, which may offer an alternative to conventional biological therapies requiring two or more independent compounds.

Clinical Efficacy of Medical Dextrose Tincture Liquid in the Treatment of Facial Photoaging

INTRODUCTION

Exogenous aging mainly refers to photo-aging, which is caused by environmental factors including ultraviolet exposure. Dextran is a homopolysaccharide composed of glucose as monosaccharide, and glucose units are connected by glycosidic bonds.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy of medical dextrose tincture liquid (medical dextrose tincture) in the treatment of facial photoaging.

METHODS

Thirty-four volunteers were included in the randomized double-blind study. According to the random number table method, the subjects were randomized into control and treatment groups. The subjects in the control and treatment groups were treated with medical hyaluronic acid gel and medical dextrose tincture, respectively. They received mesotherapy therapy three times with an interval of 28 days between treatments. Video image acquisition was performed before treatment and 28 days after treatment. Skin moisture content, glossiness, heme content, collagen density, and elasticity were tested. The subjective evaluations of subjects and doctors before and after treatment were compared.

RESULTS

Compared with the pre-treatment baseline, medical dextran tincture significantly increased skin moisture retention, skin gloss, and skin collagen density (p<0.001). Additionally, the skin retraction time was significantly reduced, and the skin retraction time was also markedly decreased after treatment with medical dextran tincture (p<0.001). The effects of medical dextran tincture were more significant in comparison with medical hyaluronic acid gel (p<0.05). The subjective evaluation results of doctors showed that after 84 days of treatment, the overall skin photoaging score was significantly reduced (p<0.001). The subjective evaluation results of volunteers showed that the various skin problems of more than 50% of volunteers were improved after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Medical dextran tincture has obvious effects of moisturizing, increasing luster, improving skin redness, increasing skin collagen content and enhancing skin elasticity.

Role of matrix metalloproteinase in wound healing

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of endopeptidases that play a vital role in the restoration of damaged skin. Through mediating various cellular events such as angiogenesis and vasodilation, MMPs are very crucial for the mechanism of wound healing. These enzymes are endopeptidases that are reliant on zinc which are concealed through the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMPs have different targets in different phases of wound healing through which they are capable of promoting timely healing in the body. This review discusses all the possible role of MMPs and their inhibitors that are involved during every step of the wound healing process. This review highlights the latest advances in the respective field about the regulation and mediation of MMPs in human skin and how these studies can be applied to other branches of medical sciences as well. Published papers were searched via MEDLINE, PubMed and MDPI from the available peer reviewed journals. Research done in the past suggests that active MMPs are involved in the healing progression of the wounds or they have a positive effect towards healing of wounds. Present studies in the relative field will further enhance the knowledge about enzymes working along with their inhibitors. These studies will help in a way to resolve some of the parameters that are necessary for modulating them either positively or negatively.

Inhibition of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Attenuates Ultraviolet B-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis

Altered FGFR signaling has been shown to play a role in a number of cancers. However, the role of FGFR signaling in the development and progression of ultraviolet B-induced (UVB) induced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) remains unclear. In the current study, the effect of UVB radiation on FGFR activation and its downstream signaling in mouse skin epidermis was examined. In addition, the impact of FGFR inhibition on UVB-induced signaling and skin carcinogenesis was also investigated. Exposure of mouse dorsal skin to UVB significantly increased phosphorylation of FGFRs in the epidermis as well as activation of downstream signaling pathways, including AKT/mTOR, STATs and MAPK. Topical application of the pan-FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 to mouse skin prior to exposure to UVB significantly inhibited FGFR phosphorylation as well as mTORC1, STAT3 and MAPK activation (i.e., phosphorylation). Moreover, AZD4547 pretreatment significantly inhibited UVB-induced epidermal hyperplasia and hyperproliferation and reduced infiltration of mast cells and macrophages into the dermis. AZD4547 treatment also significantly inhibited mRNA expression of inflammatory genes in the epidermis. Finally, mice treated topically with AZD4547 prior to UVB exposure showed decreased cSCC incidence and increased survival rate. Collectively, the current data supports the hypothesis that inhibition of FGFR in epidermis may provide a new strategy to prevent and/or treat UVB-induced cSCC.