N-(4-bromophenethyl) Caffeamide Protects Skin from UVB-Induced Inflammation Through MAPK/IL-6/NF-κB-Dependent Signaling in Human Skin Fibroblasts and Hairless Mouse Skin

Acne vulgaris: advances in pathogenesis and prevention strategies

PURPOSE

The aim is to encourage the creation of innovative prevention and treatment measures and to help readers in selecting the most effective ones.

BACKGROUND

Acne vulgaris is the most prevalent skin condition of adolescents, affecting approximately 9% of the global population. Patients become more prone to mental and psychological problems because of it. Several strategies have been established to effectively improve acne vulgaris. However, the complexity of its pathogenesis and the limitations of the existing strategies to control it in terms of bacterial resistance, patient compliance, and safety have made the development of new control strategies a hot topic in skin health research.

RESULTS

This review systematically summarizes the pathogenesis and prevention strategies of acne vulgaris according to the most recent studies. The limitations of the current research on acne vulgaris and future research directions are presented based on the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing prevention and treatment strategies.

Photoprotective effects of Sargassum thunbergii on ultraviolet B-induced mouse L929 fibroblasts and zebrafish

BACKGROUND

Chronic exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) causes a series of adverse skin reactions, such as erythema, sunburn, photoaging, and cancer, by altering signaling pathways related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Marine algae have abundant amounts and varieties of bioactive compounds that possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the photoprotective effects of an ethanol extract of Sargassum thunbergii.

METHODS

Sargassum thunbergii phenolic-rich extract (STPE) was prepared, and its activity against UVB damage was evaluated using L929 fibroblast cells and zebrafish. STPE was extracted and purified by 40% ethanol and macroporous resin XDA-7. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant markers, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were analyzed. The effect of STPE on UVB-induced inflammation was determined by inflammatory cytokine gene and protein expression. The expression of signaling molecules in the Nuclear Factor KappaB (NF-κB) pathway was determined by western blotting. DNA condensation was analyzed and visualized by Hoechst 33342 staining. In vivo evaluation was performed by tail fin area and ROS measurement using the zebrafish model.

RESULTS

The total polyphenol content of STPE was 72%. STPE reduced ROS content in L929 cells, improved SOD and CAT activities, and significantly reduced MDA content, thereby effectively alleviating UVB radiation-induced oxidative damage. STPE inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1α. STPE reversed DNA condensation at concentrations of 20 and 40 μg/mL compared with the UVB control. Moreover, STPE inhibited NF-κB signaling pathway activation and alleviated DNA agglutination in L929 cells after UVB irradiation. Additionally, 1.67 μg/mL STPE significantly increased the tail fin area in zebrafish, and 0.8-1.6 μg/mL STPE effectively eliminated excessive ROS after UVB radiation.

CONCLUSIONS

STPE inhibited UVB-induced oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokine expression, and DNA condensation via the downregulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that it prevents UVB-induced photodamage, and has potential for clinical development for skin disease treatment.

Protective Effect of Potentilla glabra in UVB-Induced Photoaging Process

Maintaining skin homeostasis is one of the most important factors for skin health. UVB-induced skin photoaging is a difficult problem that has negative impacts on skin homeostasis. So far, a number of compounds have been discovered that improve human skin barrier function and hydration, and are thought to be effective ways to protect skin homeostasis. Potentilla glabra var. mandshurica (Maxim.) Hand.-Mazz. Ethanol Extract (Pg-EE) is a compound that has noteworthy anti-inflammatory properties. However, its skin-protective effects are poorly understood. Therefore, we evaluated the capacity of Pg-EE to strengthen the skin barrier and improve skin hydration. Pg-EE can enhance the expression of filaggrin (FLG), transglutaminase (TGM)-1, hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS)-1, and HAS-2 in human keratinocytes. Moreover, Pg-EE down-regulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and up-regulated the production of FLG, HAS-1, and HAS-2 suppressed by UVB through inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways. Given the above, since Pg-EE can improve skin barrier, hydration and reduce the UVB-induced inflammation on skin, it could therefore be a valuable natural ingredient for cosmetics or pharmaceuticals to treat skin disorders.

Protection against Ultraviolet A-Induced Skin Apoptosis and Carcinogenesis through the Oxidative Stress Reduction Effects of N-(4-bromophenethyl) Caffeamide, A Propolis Derivative

Ultraviolet A (UVA) is a major factor in skin aging and damage. Antioxidative materials may ameliorate this UV damage. This study investigated the protective properties of N-(4-bromophenethyl) caffeamide (K36H) against UVA-induced skin inflammation, apoptosis and genotoxicity in keratinocytes. The protein expression or biofactor concentration related to UVA-induced skin damage were identified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. K36H reduced UVA-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and increased nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 translocation into the nucleus to upregulate the expression of heme oxygenase-1, an intrinsic antioxidant enzyme. K36H inhibited UVA-induced activation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinases and c-Jun N-terminal kinases, reduced the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-2 and elevated the expression of the metalloproteinase-1 tissue inhibitor. Moreover, K36H inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun and downregulated c-Fos expression. K36H attenuated UVA-induced Bax and caspase-3 expression and upregulated antiapoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2 expression. K36H reduced UVA-induced DNA damage. K36H also downregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 and interleukin-6 expression as well as the subsequent generation of prostaglandin E₂ and nitric oxide. We observed that K36H ameliorated UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and antiphotocarcinogenic activity. K36H can potentially be used for the development of antiphotodamage and antiphotocarcinogenic products.

The Glucosamine-derivative NAPA Suppresses MAPK Activation and Restores Collagen Deposition in Human Diploid Fibroblasts Challenged with Environmental Levels of UVB

The ultraviolet (UV) component of solar radiation is the driving force of life on earth, but it can cause photoaging and skin cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of the glucosamine-derivative 2-(N-Acetyl)-L-phenylalanylamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucose (NAPA) on human primary fibroblasts (FBs) stimulated in vitro with environmental levels of UVB radiation. FBs were irradiated with 0.04 J cm-2 UVB dose, which resulted a mild dosage as shown by the cell viability and ROS production measurement. This environmental UVB dose induced activation of MAP kinase ERK 1/2, the stimulation of c-fos and at lower extent of c-jun, and in turn AP-1-dependent up-regulation of pro-inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-8 and suppression of collagen type I expression. On the contrary, 0.04 J cm-2 UVB dose was not able to stimulate metalloprotease production. NAPA treatment was able to suppress the up-regulation of IL-6 and IL-8 via the inhibition of MAP kinase ERK phosphorylation and the following AP-1 activation, and was able to attenuate the collagen type I down-regulation induced by the UVBs. Taken together, our results show that NAPA, considering its dual action on suppression of inflammation and stimulation of collagen type I production, represents an interesting candidate as a new photoprotective and photorepairing agents.