Human HaCaT Research Articles

Inhibition of Retinoic Acid Metabolising Enzymes by 2-(4-aminophenylmethyl)-6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one and Related Compounds

In a search for inhibitors of all-trans retinoic acid (RA)-metabolising enzymes as potential agents for the treatment of skin conditions and cancer we have examined 2-(4-aminophenylmethyl)-6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one (5). Compound (5) is a moderate inhibitor of RA-metabolising enzymes in mammalian cadaverous tissue microsomes and homogenates as well as RA-induced enzymes in cultured human genital fibroblasts and HaCat cells. Overall (5) was more potent than or equipotent with ketoconazole, a standard inhibitor, in the cadaverous systems but less active towards the RA-induced cell culture systems. Examination of the data suggests that RA-induction generates metabolising enzymes not present in the cadaverous systems, which are more susceptible to inhibition by ketoconazole than (5).

Some 3-(4-Aminophenyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-diones as All- trans -retinoic Acid Metabolising Enzyme Inhibitors (RAMBAs)

A series of (±) -3-(4-aminophenyl) pyrrolidin-2,5-diones substituted in the 1-, 3- or 1,3- position with an aryl or long chain alkyl function are weak inhibitors of the metabolism of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) by rat liver microsomes (68-75% inhibition) compared with ketoconazole (85%). Further studies with the 1-cyclohexyl analogue (1) (IC 50 = 98.8 μM, ketoconazole, 22.15 μM) showed that it was not stereoselective in its inhibition. (±) - (1) was not an inhibitor of pig brain microsomal enzyme (ketoconazole, IC 50 = 20.9 μM), had little effect on human liver microsomal enzyme (19.3%, ketoconazole, 81.6%) or human placental microsomal enzyme (9.8%, ketoconazole 73.9%) but was a weak inhibitor of human and rat skin homogenates (52.6% and IC 50 = 211.6 μM respectively; ketoconazole, 38.8% and 85.95 μM). In RA-induced cell cultures of human male genital fibroblasts and HaCat cells, (±) - (1) was a weak inhibitor (c. 53% at 200 μM) whereas ketoconazole showed high potency (c. 65% at 0.625 μM and 0.25 μM respectively). The nature of the induced target enzyme is discussed.

L’amélioration de la défense antioxydante endogène : une piste pour la prévention des cancers cutanés

There is considerable evidence that ultraviolet radiation (UV) from sunlight is implicated in skin carcinogenesis. So the risks of cutaneous cancer have increased during the last decade due to increase of sun exposure. For a long time, ultraviolet B radiation (UVB: 290-320 nm) have been considered to be the more efficient wavelength in eliciting carcinogenesis in human skin. It is today clear that UVA (320-400 nm), especially UVA1 (340-400 nm) also participate to photo carcinogenesis. One of molecular mechanisms in the biological effects of UV is the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) directly or through endogenous photosensitization reactions. UVA radiation mainly acts via this production of ROS and the subsequent oxidative stress seems to play a crucial role in the deleterious effects of UVA. Fortunately, the skin possesses a wide range of interlinked antioxidant defence mechanism to protect itself from damage by UV-induced ROS. However, the capacity of these systems is not unlimited; they can be overwhelmed by excessive exposure to UV and then ROS can reach damaging levels. An interesting strategy to provide photoprotection would be to support or enhance one or more of these endogenous systems. In our experiments, we have evaluated the protective effect of glutathion, selenium and zinc, three compounds playing a pivotal role in the cellular defence against oxidative damage. We have irradiated both by UVA1 and UVB culture of human normal skin fibroblasts or of spontaneously immortalised human keratinocyte cell line Hacat. Before irradiation, treated cells were submitted to zinc deprivation by a diffusible zinc chelator, NNN' N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylene diamine (TPEN) or supplied with zinc chloride, thiols (N-acetyl-cysteine; N-acetyl-homocysteine-thiolactone, L2oxothiozolidine-4 carboxylate) selenium as sodium selenite. The cell viability was measured using the adhesion-proliferation method or a tetrazolium colorimetric assay. The damages induced to cellular membrane were appreciated by determination of thiobarbituric reactants (Tbars) by a fluorometric micromethod. Cellular DNA damage was examined by strand break determination carried out using the method described by Birnboim and Jevcak and by the Comet assay. Our results show that: UVA1 have a main part in cytotoxic effect of UVA and this effect is linked to ROS; thiols and selenium protect cells against UVA radiation with a synergic interaction and this protection acts though an increase in glutathion peroxidase activity; zinc protects against cytotoxicity of UVA and UVB and against UVB induced DNA damages; above all, DNA damages induced by UVA or UVB are significantly prevented by thiol molecules, selenium and zinc. As DNA damages have a main place in photocarcinogenesis, our results point out the potential interest of a photoprotection based on the support of endogenous antioxidant system. The research of new ways for photoprotection is indeed a necessity because sunscreens did not give convincing evidences of efficacy in preventing skin cancers.

Superoxide generation in v‐Ha‐ras–transduced human keratinocyte HaCaT cells

Superoxide generation in v‐Ha‐ras–transduced human keratinocyte HaCaT cells

DNA synthesis in cultured human keratinocytes and HaCaT keratinocytes is reduced by specific inhibition of dipeptidylpeptidase IV (CD26) activity

The ectopeptidase dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DP IV, CD26, EC 3.4.14.5) is present on most mammalian cells. Using specific inhibitors of DP IV, it has been shown that this enzyme is involved in the regulation of DNA synthesis and in production of various cytokines in lymphocytes. The aim of the present work was to investigate the expression of DP IV/CD26 on human keratinocytes and to answer the question, whether the proliferation (DNA synthesis) of human keratinocytes is influenced by inhibition of the enzymatic activity of DP IV. Using flow cytometry, RT-PCR, and specific enzymatic activity assays, expression of DP IV-mRNA and CD26 antigen were shown on primary keratinocyte strains and on the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line. The synthetic DP IV inhibitors Lys[Z(NO2)]-thiazolidide and -pyrrolidide suppress the DNA synthesis of these cells in a dose-dependent manner. These data demonstrate that CD26 is also involved in the regulation of DNA synthesis of keratinocytes and that the enzymatic activity is required for mediating these effects.

Decreased phospholipase D (PLD) activity in ceramide-induced apoptosis of human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT

Decreased phospholipase D (PLD) activity in ceramide-induced apoptosis of human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT

Biotransformation of estradiol in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT: metabolism kinetics and the inhibitory effect of ethanol.

The aim of our study was to investigate the kinetics of beta-estradiol (E2) metabolism in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and to estimate the effect of the potential inhibitor ethanol on the biotransformation reaction. The formation rates of estrone (E1) in dependence on substrate concentrations were determined in HaCaT cells using tritium labelled E2. Experiments were conducted with and without addition of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and ethanol. Possible toxic effects on the cells due to ethanol were investigated by cytotoxicity tests. The metabolism of E2 in HaCaT cells exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Km and Vmax values of 3.5 microM and 216 pmol x mg(-1) protein x h(-1), respectively. The reaction was inhibited by DHEA and ethanol. The alcohol showed a reversible competitive inhibition mechanism for concentrations of 4 to 8% (v/v). Lower ethanol concentrations had no effect, whereas levels > or =10% significantly decreased cell viability leading to a different inhibition mechanism. The HaCaT cell line seems to be a suitable model for studying enzyme kinetics equivalent to the human skin. The concentration dependent inhibitory effect of ethanol observed in this cell line may be relevant for the transdermal E2 application in patients.

VASOACTIVE-INTESTINAL-PEPTIDE (VIP) MODULATES THE GROWTH FRACTION OF EPITHELIAL SKIN CELLS

Using the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT, modifications of the growth fraction due to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were determined by immunostaining with monoclonal antibody Ki67. In addition, the expression of VIP receptor and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor have been analysed. VIP (10-(7) to 10-(11) M) produced an almost doubling of the total number of Ki67-positive cells in cultures with 2% fetal calf serum (FCS), wheras it was ineffective in FCS-free and 10% FCS cultures. The nuclear Ki67-staining patterns were classified into four categories. In FCS-free cultures VIP induced a shift from type III (light nucleus, staining nuclei) to type II (multiple, intensely stained spots). In cultures with 2% FCS, VIP induced a shift from type II to type III. VIP receptor expression was facilitated by VIP, when cells were grown in a medium supplemented with 10% FCS. VIP increased EGF receptor expression in FCS-free cultures but decreased the number EGF receptor-positive cells in experiments with 2% FCS. In conclusion, VIP is capable to modulate the growth fraction and receptor expression of HaCaT cells in vitro. The effects are dependent on the concentration of FCS within the culture medium. The findings might be of interest for keratinocyte pathology in general and dermatooncology in particular.

The Radiosensitivity of Human Keratinocytes: Influence of ActivatedC-H-rasOncogene Expression and Tumorigenicity

We have investigated the gamma-ray sensitivity of several activated c-H-ras (EJ) containing clones that have been established after transfection of the spontaneously immortalized non-tumorigenic human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. The clones were grouped according to their tumorigenic potential after subcutaneous injection into nude mice, and fell into three classes: Class I clones A-4 and I-6 are non-tumorigenic and express very low levels of c-H-ras mRNA and no mutated ras protein (p21); Class II clones I-5 and I-7 grow to large (benign) epidermal cysts, express intermediate to high c-H-ras mRNA and variable levels of mutated ras p21 protein with clone I-5 expressing little and clone I-7 expressing high levels of p21; Class III clones II-3 and II-4 grow to solid squamous cell carcinomas, express high c-H-ras mRNA and high level of mutated p21 ras protein similar to clone I-7. Comparison of the single-hit multitarget or linear-quadratic survival curve parameters, and survival at 2 Gy (S2) indicate that there appears to be no general correlation with either activated c-H-ras expression level or tumorigenic potential, and increased radioresistance.