Cultured Skin Fibroblasts Research Articles

Evaluation of Patients and Families With Concern for Predispositions to Hematologic Malignancies Within the Hereditary Hematologic Malignancy Clinic (HHMC).

Although multiple predispositions to hematologic malignancies exist, evaluations for hereditary cancer syndromes (HCS) are underperformed by most hematologist/oncologists. Criteria for initiating HCS evaluation are poorly defined, and results of genetic testing for hereditary hematologic malignancies have not been systematically reported. From April 2014 to August 2015, 67 patients were referred to the Hereditary Hematologic Malignancy Clinic (HHMC). Referral reasons included (1) bone marrow failure or myelodysplastic syndrome in patients≤ 50 years, (2) evaluation for germ-line inheritance of identified RUNX1, GATA2, or CEBPA mutations on targeted next-generation sequencing panels, and (3) strong personal and/or family history of malignancy. Cultured skin fibroblasts were utilized for germ-line DNA in all patients with hematologic malignancy. Eight patients (12%) were clinically diagnosed with a HCS: 4 patients with RUNX1-related familial platelet disorder (FPD)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 1 patient each with dyskeratosis congenita, Fanconi anemia, germ-line DDX41, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS). Two patients with concern for FPD/AML and LFS, respectively, had RUNX1 and TP53 variants of unknown significance. Additionally, 4 patients with prior HCS diagnosis (1 LFS, 3 FPD/AML) were referred for further evaluation and surveillance. In this HHMC-referred hematologic malignancy cohort, HCS was confirmed in 12 patients (18%). HCS identification provides insight for improved and individualized treatment, as well as screening/surveillance opportunities for family members. The HHMC has facilitated HCS diagnosis; with increased clinical awareness of hematologic malignancy predisposition syndromes, more patients who may benefit from evaluation can be identified. Mutation panels intended for prognostication may provide increased clinical suspicion for germ-line testing.

Clinical and Biochemical Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Peroxisomal Disorders.

Peroxisomal disorders are a heterogeneous group of genetic metabolic disorders, caused by a defect in peroxisome biogenesis or a deficiency of a single peroxisomal enzyme. The peroxisomal disorders include the Zellweger spectrum disorders, the rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata spectrum disorders, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, and multiple single enzyme deficiencies. There are several core phenotypes caused by peroxisomal dysfunction that clinicians can recognize. The diagnosis is suggested by biochemical testing in blood and urine and confirmed by functional assays in cultured skin fibroblasts, followed by mutation analysis. This review describes the phenotype of the main peroxisomal disorders and possible pitfalls in (laboratory) diagnosis to aid clinicians in the recognition of this group of diseases.

Exposure to Varying Strain Magnitudes Influences the Conversion of Normal Skin Fibroblasts Into Hypertrophic Scar Cells.

Mechanical strain is a key contributor in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic scarring, whose optimal stretch magnitudes to initiate the differentiation of normal skin fibroblasts into aberrant fibroblasts phenotype remains largely unresolved. Influence of varying cyclic strain magnitudes on cultured human normal skin fibroblasts and its transformation into hypertrophic scar fibroblast-like phenotype is investigated in this study. Cultured fibroblasts isolated from hypertrophic scar and normal skin tissue were subjected to cyclic mechanical stretching under individual 10%, 15%, and 20% strain magnitudes at a frequency of 0.1 Hz for 24 hours. Stretched normal skin fibroblasts demonstrated significantly increased rates of cell proliferation, and also apparently oriented away nearly perpendicular to the applied stretching direction. Interestingly, the applied 10% strains magnitude resulted in a markedly enhanced cell proliferative ability compared with that of 20% strain magnitude. Parameters involving the mechanotransduction signaling, such as integrin β1 and P130Cas, were significantly improved at both mRNA and protein levels in the stretched normal skin fibroblasts, which was demonstrated in a negative magnitude-dependent manner. In addition, 10% strains magnitude triggered the highest expression levels of growth factor TGF-β1 and collagen matrix in stretched normal skin fibroblasts. Collectively, these results indicate that the 10% stretching magnitude, of the 3 strain magnitudes studied, is most effective for triggering the optimal mechanotransduction effects and biological responses inside cultured skin fibroblasts. The demonstrable conversion of normal skin fibroblasts into hypertrophic scar fibroblasts was also observed when 10% stretching magnitude was applied to cultured fibroblasts in vitro.

Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Enzymatic Activities on Skin Fibroblasts in Patients With Mutant Glucocerebrosidase and PARK2 Genes

Background: Impairments of mitochondrial respiratory chain have been observed in skin fibroblast of patients with sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PARK2 mutations. This study assesses enzymatic activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain in skin fibroblasts of Thai PD patients with glucocerebrosidase (GBA) and PARK2 mutations. Methods: Skin fibroblasts were obtained from 14 individuals including four mutant GBA alleles, three mutant PARK2 alleles, and seven PD patients without mutations. Five age-matched healthy controls were recruited. Activities of complex I - V were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and normalized with citrate synthase activity. All measurements were performed in triplicate. Results: Complex V activity seemed to be lower in PD patients than controls. Among patients, activities of complexes I, II, IV and V seemed to be lower in the mutant group than those without mutation. Among patients with mutations, the mutant GBA group showed slightly lower activities of complexes II, IV, and V than the mutant PARK2 group. Conclusions: A skin fibroblast culture may be a useful tool to investigate how GBA mutation leads to impairment of the energetic metabolism in patients with PD. J Neurol Res. 2016;6(1):12-17 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jnr375w

The important role of biochemical and functional studies in the diagnostics of peroxisomal disorders

Peroxisomes are dynamic organelles that play an essential role in a variety of metabolic pathways. Peroxisomal dysfunction can lead to various biochemical abnormalities and result in abnormal metabolite levels, such as increased very long-chain fatty acid or reduced plasmalogen levels. The metabolite abnormalities in peroxisomal disorders are used in the diagnostics of these disorders. In this paper we discuss in detail the different diagnostic tests available for peroxisomal disorders and focus specifically on the important role of biochemical and functional studies in cultured skin fibroblasts in reaching the right diagnosis. Several examples are shown to underline the power of such studies.

Mitochondrial complex I-linked disease

Complex I deficiency is the most frequently encountered single mitochondrial single enzyme deficiency in patients with a mitochondrial disorder. Although specific genotype–phenotype correlations are very difficult to identify, the majority of patients present with symptoms caused by leukodystrophy. The poor genotype–phenotype correlations can make establishing a diagnosis a challenge. The classical way to establish a complex I deficiency in patients is by performing spectrophotometric measurements of the enzyme in a muscle biopsy or other patient-derived material (liver or heart biopsy, cultured skin fibroblasts). Complex I is encoded by both the mtDNA and nuclear DNA and pathogenic mutations have been identified in the majority of the 44 genes encoding the structural subunits of complex I. In recent years, the increasing possibilities for diagnostic molecular genetic tests of large gene panels, exomes, and even entire genomes has led to the identification of many novel genetic defects causing complex I deficiency. Complex I mutations not only result in a reduced enzyme activity but also induce secondary effects at the cellular level, such as elevated reactive oxygen species production, altered membrane potential and mitochondrial morphology. At this moment there is no cure for complex I deficiency and the treatment options for complex I patients are restricted to symptomatic treatment. Recent developments, amongst others based on the treatment of the secondary effects of complex I deficiency, have shown to be promising as new therapeutic strategies in vitro and have entered clinical trials. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Respiratory complex I, edited by Volker Zickermann and Ulrich Brandt.

Low doses of nanodiamonds and silica nanoparticles have beneficial hormetic effects in normal human skin fibroblasts in culture

Nanodiamonds (ND) and silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NP) have been much investigated for their toxicity at high doses, little is known about their biological activity at low concentrations. Here we report the biphasic dose response of ND and SiO2-NP in modulating normal human facial skin fibroblasts (FSF1) in culture. ND and SiO2-NP at low concentration (up to 0.5 μg/ml) had beneficial effects on FSF1 in terms of increasing their proliferation and metabolic activity. Exposure of FSF1 cells to low levels of NP enhanced their wound healing ability in vitro and slowed down aging during serial passaging as measured by maintenance of youthful morphology, reduction in the rate of loss of telomeres, and the over all proliferative characteristics. Furthermore, NP treatment induced the activation of Nrf2- and FOXO3A-mediated cellular stress responses, including an increased expression of heme oxygenease (HO-1), sirtuin (SIRT1), and DNA methyltransferase II (DNMT2). These results imply that ND and SiO2-NP at low doses are potential hormetins, which exert mild stress-induced beneficial hormetic effects through improved survival, longevity, maintenance, repair and function of human cells.

Growth hormone signaling in fibroblasts from newborn boys and prepubertal boys

Background/aimResponsiveness to GH in target cells is mediated by its receptor, which activates the Janus kinase-2 (JAK2) and STAT5 (signal transducers and activators of transcription 5) leading to the expression of IGF-1 and IGFALS. The aim of this study was to compare the GH signaling pathway in newborns and prepubertal boys. Subjects and methodsWe determined the GHR protein content and the effect of stimulation with recombinant human GH (rhGH; 200ng/mL) on JAK2 and STAT5 phosphorylation in skin fibroblast cultures obtained from newborns and prepubertal boys. The transcript levels of IGFALS and IGF-I, were also studied and compared after 16h or 24h of stimulation with GH in both study groups. ResultsNewborn infants showed less GHR protein than the prepubertal boys. After rhGH stimulation, JAK2 and STAT5 phosphorylation was absent in skin fibroblasts from newborns, but was clearly detectable in prepubertal boys. After 16h of treatment with rhGH, IGFALS and IGF-I transcript levels increased in the prepubertal boys when compared to baseline. In newborns, however, we did not observe a response after 16 and 24h of rhGH stimulation. ConclusionThe significant attenuation of the GH signaling pathway observed in fibroblasts from newborn boys appears to be related to a reduction in GHR content and lack of phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT5 in response to rhGH. This might impair STAT5 dimer formation, leading to a reduction in the transcript levels of IGFALS and IGF-I during the newborn period.

Peculiarities and pitfalls of quantifying mitochondrial energy metabolism in the skin.

Peculiarities and pitfalls of quantifying mitochondrial energy metabolism in the skin.

Biochemical Characterisation and Whole Genome Expression Profiling of Cultured Skin Fibroblasts from Two South African Adults with Urinary 3-Hydroxyisovaleric Acid and 3-Methylcrotonylglycine

We report on the first case of marginal 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCC) deficiency in South Africa. Urinary 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid and 3-methylcrotonylglycine were detected in four males of a non-consanguineous family. Only the index patient (NWU001) had non-specific symptoms, the others were asymptomatic. The inherited metabolite profile and partially reduced MCC activity were indicative of marginal MCC deficiency. In vivo L-leucine loading confirmed a reduced flux through the leucine degradation pathway. No known deleterious mutations were detected in the open reading frames of MCCC1 and MCCC2. NWU001 was heterozygous for a SNP in MCCC1 (rs2270968; c.1391A>C, p.H464P). NWU002 was heterozygous for a MCCC2 splice variant which skips exon 7 and causes an in frame deletion of 38 amino acids that is identical to a predicted shorter MCCC2 isoform-2 (Q9HCC0-2). Whole genome expression profiles from cultured skin fibroblasts of NWU001 and NWU002 and two healthy adults using Affymetrix® HuExST1.0 arrays detected 14237 significantly differentially expressed transcript IDs of which only 1277 have known annotation and gene association. The underlying molecular interactions, secondary signalling responses and functional relationships of these 1277 transcripts were inspected following a knowledge-based functional analyses approach using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. The transcriptome had a footprint of oxidative stress, disruption of energy homeostasis, inflammation, impaired cellular maintenance and repair mechanisms. Of note was the significant up regulation of the fatty acid amide hydrolase variant 2 (FAAH2) HuChrX transcript in the anandamide degradation canonical pathway. The observations that the two MCC transcripts were not significantly differentially expressed and that more than 90% of the significantly differently expressed transcripts are still poorly annotated further support the notion that secondary factors other than the MCC loci impact on the MCC deficiency phenome.

A Novel N-Tetrasaccharide in Patients with Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation, Including Asparagine-Linked Glycosylation Protein 1, Phosphomannomutase 2, and Mannose Phosphate Isomerase Deficiencies.

Primary deficiencies in mannosylation of N-glycans are seen in a majority of patients with congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG). We report the discovery of a series of novel N-glycans in sera, plasma, and cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with CDG having deficient mannosylation. We used LC-MS/MS and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis to identify and quantify a novel N-linked tetrasaccharide linked to the protein core, an N-tetrasaccharide (Neu5Acα2,6Galβ1,4-GlcNAcβ1,4GlcNAc) in plasma, serum glycoproteins, and a fibroblast lysate from patients with CDG caused by ALG1 [ALG1 (asparagine-linked glycosylation protein 1), chitobiosyldiphosphodolichol β-mannosyltransferase], PMM2 (phosphomannomutase 2), and MPI (mannose phosphate isomerase). Glycoproteins in sera, plasma, or cell lysate from ALG1-CDG, PMM2-CDG, and MPI-CDG patients had substantially more N-tetrasaccharide than unaffected controls. We observed a >80% decline in relative concentrations of the N-tetrasaccharide in MPI-CDG plasma after mannose therapy in 1 patient and in ALG1-CDG fibroblasts in vitro supplemented with mannose. This novel N-tetrasaccharide could serve as a diagnostic marker of ALG1-, PMM2-, or MPI-CDG for screening of these 3 common CDG subtypes that comprise >70% of CDG type I patients. Its quantification by LC-MS/MS may be useful for monitoring therapeutic efficacy of mannose. The discovery of these small N-glycans also indicates the presence of an alternative pathway in N-glycosylation not recognized previously, but its biological significance remains to be studied.

Native Australian plant extracts differentially induce Collagen I and Collagen III in vitro and could be important targets for the development of new wound healing therapies

Australian native plants have a long history of therapeutic use in indigenous cultures, however, they have been poorly studied scientifically. We analysed the effects of 14 plant derived compounds from the species Pilidiostigma glabrum, Myoporum montanum, Geijera parviflora, and Rhodomyrtus psidioides for their potential wound healing properties by assessing their ability to induce or suppress Collagen I and Collagen III expression in human skin fibroblasts in culture. The compound 7-geranyloxycoumarin was able to significantly increase Collagen I (23.7%, p<0.0002) expression in comparison to control. Significant suppression of Collagen III was observed for the compounds flindersine (11.1%, p<0.02), and (N-acetoxymethyl) flindersine (27%, p<0.00005). The implications of these finding is that these compounds could potentially alter the expression of different collagens in the skin allowing for the potential development of new wound healing therapies and new approaches for treating various skin diseases as well as photo (sun) damaged, and aged skin.

Disruption of Golgi morphology and altered protein glycosylation in PLA2G6-associated neurodegeneration

BackgroundMutations in PLA2G6, which encodes the calcium-independent phospholipase A2 group VI, cause neurodegeneration and diffuse cortical Lewy body formation by a yet undefined mechanism. We assessed whether altered protein glycosylation...

Identification of Genetic Hereditary Predisposition to Hematologic Malignancies By Clinical Next-Generation Sequencing

Introduction: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute leukemia (AL) are a clinically diverse and genetically heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies. Familial forms of MDS/AL have been increasingly recognized in recent years, and can occur as a primary event or secondary to genetic syndromes, such as inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS). It is critical to confirm a genetic diagnosis in patients with hereditary predisposition to hematologic malignancies in order to provide prognostic information and cancer risk assessment, and to aid in identification of at-risk or affected family members. In addition, a molecular diagnosis can help tailor medical management including informing the selection of family members for allogeneic stem cell transplantation donors. Until recently, clinical testing options for this diverse group of hematologic malignancy predisposition genes were limited to the evaluation of single genes by Sanger sequencing, which is a time consuming and expensive process. To improve the diagnosis of hereditary predisposition to hematologic malignancies, our CLIA-licensed laboratory has recently developed Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel-based testing for these genes.Methods: Thirty six patients with personal and/or family history of aplastic anemia, MDS or AL were referred for clinical diagnostic testing. DNA from the referred patients was obtained from cultured skin fibroblasts or peripheral blood and was utilized for preparing libraries with the SureSelectXT Enrichment System. Libraries were sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq instrument and the NGS data was analyzed with a custom bioinformatic pipeline, targeting a panel of 76 genes associated with IBMFS and/or familial MDS/AL.Results: Pathogenic and highly likely pathogenic variants were identified in 7 out of 36 patients analyzed, providing a positive molecular diagnostic rate of 20%. Overall, 6 out of the 7 pathogenic changes identified were novel. In 2 unrelated patients with MDS, heterozygous pathogenic sequence changes were identified in the GATA2 gene. Heterozygous pathogenic changes in the following autosomal dominant genes were each identified in a single patient: RPS26 (Diamond-Blackfan anemia 10), RUNX1 (familial platelet disorder with propensity to myeloid malignancy), TERT (dyskeratosis congenita 4) and TINF2 (dyskeratosis congenita 3). In addition, one novel heterozygous sequence change (c.826+5_826+9del, p.?) in the Fanconi anemia associated gene FANCA was identified. . The RNA analysis demonstrated this variant causes skipping of exon 9 and results in a premature stop codon in exon 10. Further review of the NGS data provided evidence of an additional large heterozygous multi-exon deletion in FANCA in the same patient. This large deletion was confirmed using array-CGH (comparative genomic hybridization).Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using NGS technology to identify patients with a hereditary predisposition to hematologic malignancies. As many of the genes associated with hereditary predisposition to hematologic malignancies have similar or overlapping clinical presentations, analysis of a diverse panel of genes is an efficient and cost-effective approach to molecular diagnostics for these disorders. Unlike Sanger sequencing, NGS technology also has the potential to identify large exonic deletions and duplications. In addition, RNA splicing assay has proven to be helpful in clarifying the pathogenicity of variants suspected to affect splicing. This approach will also allow for identification of a molecular defect in patients who may have atypical presentation of disease. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Clinical laboratory experience of blood CRIM testing in infantile Pompe disease

Cross-reactive immunological material (CRIM) status is an important prognostic factor in patients with infantile Pompe disease (IPD) being treated with enzyme replacement therapy. Western blot analysis of cultured skin fibroblast lysates has been the gold standard for determining CRIM status. Here, we evaluated CRIM status using peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) protein. For 6 of 33 patients (18%) CRIM status determination using PBMC was either indeterminate or discordant with GAA genotype or fibroblast CRIM analysis results. While the use of PBMCs for CRIM determination has the advantage of a faster turnaround time, further evaluation is needed to ensure the accuracy of CRIM results.

Effective intra-S checkpoint responses to UVC in primary human melanocytes and melanoma cell lines.

The objective of this study was to assess potential functional attenuation or inactivation of the intra-S checkpoint during melanoma development. Proliferating cultures of skin melanocytes, fibroblasts, and melanoma cell lines were exposed to increasing fluences of UVC and intra-S checkpoint responses were quantified. Melanocytes displayed stereotypic intra-S checkpoint responses to UVC qualitatively and quantitatively equivalent to those previously demonstrated in skin fibroblasts. In comparison with fibroblasts, primary melanocytes displayed reduced UVC-induced inhibition of DNA strand growth and enhanced degradation of p21Waf1 after UVC, suggestive of enhanced bypass of UVC-induced DNA photoproducts. All nine melanoma cell lines examined, including those with activating mutations in BRAF or NRAS oncogenes, also displayed proficiency in activation of the intra-S checkpoint in response to UVC irradiation. The results indicate that bypass of oncogene-induced senescence during melanoma development was not associated with inactivation of the intra-S checkpoint response to UVC-induced DNA replication stress.

Psychological stress-induced catecholamines accelerates cutaneous aging in mice

Psychological stress may be an important extrinsic factor which influences aging process. However, neither study demonstrated the mechanism by which chronic stress participates in skin aging. Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic psychological stress on mice skin. Mice were daily submitted to rotational stress, for 28 days, until euthanasia. After 28 days, mice were killed and normal skin was analyzed. Macroscopically, dorsum skin of chronically stressed mice presented more wrinkled when compared to that of nonstressed mice. In mice skin, chronic stress increased lipid peroxidation, carbonyl protein content, nitrotyrosine levels, neutrophil infiltration, neutrophil elastase, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and metalloproteinase-8 levels. Nevertheless, chronic stress reduced dermis thickness, collagen type I, fibrilin-1 and elastin protein levels in mice skin. In in vitro assays, murine skin fibroblasts were exposed to elevated epinephrine levels plus inhibitors of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), fibroblast activity was evaluated in a short time. In skin fibroblast culture, treatment with inhibitors of ROS and RNS synthesis abolished the increase in carbonyl protein content and lipid peroxide accumulation induced by epinephrine. In conclusion, chronic psychological stress may be an important extrinsic factor, which contributes to skin aging in mice.

Hyaluronic acid abrogates ethanol-dependent inhibition of collagen biosynthesis in cultured human fibroblasts.

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of ethanol on collagen biosynthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts, and the role of hyaluronic acid (HA) in this process. Regarding the mechanism of ethanol action on human skin fibroblasts we investigated: expression of β1 integrin and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-IR), signaling pathway protein expression: mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), protein kinase B (Akt), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factor, cytotoxicity assay and apoptosis, metalloproteinase activity, as well as the influence of HA on these processes.Materials and methodsCollagen biosynthesis, activity of prolidase, DNA biosynthesis, and cytotoxicity were measured in confluent human skin fibroblast cultures that have been treated with 25, 50, and 100 mM ethanol and with ethanol and 500 µg/mL HA. Western blot analysis and zymography were performed to evaluate expression of collagen type I, β1 integrin receptor, IGF-IR, NF-κB protein, phospho-Akt protein, kinase MAPK, caspase 9 activity, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9 and MMP-2).ResultsEthanol in a dose-dependent manner lead to the impairment of collagen biosynthesis in fibroblast cultures through decreasing prolidase activity and expression of β1 integrin and IGF-IR. This was accompanied by an increased cytotoxicity, apoptosis and lowered expression of the signaling pathway proteins induced by β1 integrin and IGF-IR, that is, MAPK (ERK1/2) kinases. The lowered amount of synthesized collagen and prolidase activity disturbance may also be due to the activation of NF-κB transcription factor, which inhibits collagen gene expression. It suggests that the decrease in fibroblast collagen production may be caused by the disturbance in its biosynthesis but not degradation. The application of HA has a protective effect on disturbances caused by the examined substances. It seems that regulatory mechanism of ethanol-induced collagen aberration take place at the level of collagen biosynthesis, since no effect of ethanol and HA was found on process of collagen degradation by MMP-2 and MMP-9.ConclusionThis study provides evidence that ethanol impairs collagen metabolism in human skin fibroblasts, leading to a significant decrease in the amount of produced protein. This mechanism probably is due to downregulation of prolidase activity, expression of β1 integrin and IGF-IR receptors, and the signaling pathway proteins induced by these receptors.

Caveat Emptor: A Disciplined Approach to Buying at Auction

We report a unique glycine substitution in type I collagen and highlight the clinical and biochemical consequences. The proband is a 9 year old Turkish boy with severely deforming osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Biochemical analysis of (pro) collagen type I from a skin fibroblast culture showed both normal and overmodified α chains. Molecular analysis showed a G&gt;T transversion in the<i>COL1A2</i> gene, resulting in the substitution of glycine by tryptophan at position 277 of the α2(I) collagen chain. Glycine substitutions in type I collagen are the most frequent cause of the severe and lethal forms of OI. The phenotypic severity varies according to the nature and localisation of the mutation. Substitutions of glycine by tryptophan, which is the most voluminous amino acid, have not yet been identified in type I collagen or any other fibrillar collagen. The severe, though non-lethal OI phenotype associated with this mutation may appear surprising in view of the huge size of the tryptophan residue. The fact that the mutation resides within a so called “non-lethal” region of the α2(I) collagen chain supports a regional model in phenotypic severity for α2(I) collagen mutations, in which the phenotype is determined primarily by the nature of the collagen domain rather than the type of glycine substitution involved.

In Vitro UVB induced Cellular Damage Assessment Using Primary Human Skin Derived Fibroblasts

Nowadays there is a great deal of concern resulting from the impact of UV light on human skin especially when skin damage levels are predicted to rise due to ozone layer depletion. The skin acts as an important biological barrier, and plays an important physiological and immunological role. This study reports the UVB-induced effect on skin derived primary fibroblasts one of the most abundant cells in the dermis. Two time points, immediately and 24 hour post UVB exposure were used to measure the magnitude of UVB-induced cytotoxicity. The induced cell membrane damage was assessed by neutral red (NR) dye uptake while cellular metabolic activity was assessed by the 5-(3-carboxy-methoxyphenyl)-2-(4.5-dimethylthiazolyl)-3-(4-sulphonyl) (MTS) cytotoxicity assay. A correlation was found between the MTS and neutral red (NR) assay in measuring UVB-induced cellular damage in exposed skin fibroblasts cultures immediately post exposure. These findings indicated that doses higher than 2.2 J/cm 2 were needed for the immediate expression of measurable cell membrane damage by the assays systems used. This should not indicate that no damage is triggered by lower irradiation levels, since our observations 24h post UVB-irradiation of the same cells showed cellular membrane damage for lower doses (0.7J/cm 2 ) by comparison to immediately post exposure. The assessment of cellular metabolic activity indicated that MTS displayed a higher sensitivity in detecting early cell damage by comparison to the NR assay. The UVB induction follows a dose dependent response, and the cellular damage induced by exposure is best-measured 24h following exposure.