Human Skin Dermal Fibroblasts Research Articles

Nicotine induces the expression of early growth response‐1 in human skin dermal fibroblasts

Egr-1 is known to play an important role in cell growth, differentiation, and cell survival. Human skin dermal fibroblasts (HSDF) may be an important target for adverse effects of tobacco components. However, nicotinic effect for early growth response-1 (Egr-1) expression is unknown in HSDF. Cytotoxicity of nicotine was assessed by cell viability test in HSDF. The expression of Egr-1 protein and mRNA after nicotine treatment was evaluated by Western blotting and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We also measured the promoter activity of Egr-1 in HSDF after nicotine exposure. Early growth response-1 protein and mRNA levels were increased in dermal fibroblasts exposed to nicotine. Nicotine treatment stimulated the promoter activity of Egr-1 in cultured human fibroblasts. In this study, we demonstrate that Egr-1 expression is markedly induced in HSDF after exposure to nicotine.

Fucoidan-Vitamin C complex suppresses tumor invasion through the basement membrane, with scarce injuries to normal or tumor cells, via decreases in oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinases

Fucoidan (Fucdn) and vitamin C (VC) were saturatedly dissolved in water and lyophilized and thoroughly ethanol-rinsed until no detection for supernatant vitamin C to form the Fucdn-VC (1:0.23 wt/wt) inclusion body (Fucdn-VC-IB). Fucdn-VC-IB increased not only VC-stabilizing at 37 degrees C, but also hydroxyl-radical scavenging as shown by ESR/spin-trap method, more markedly than a mere mixture of Fucdn:VC (1:0.23 wt/wt). Invasion of human fibrosarcoma cells HT-1080 through the basement membrane was repressed by Fucdn-VC-IB of non-cytotoxic concentrations without significant inhibition to human skin dermal fibroblasts DUMS-16 cells. Fucdn-VC-IB suppressed the invasiveness-related gelatinases MMP-2/9, and diminished reactive oxygen species inside the cytoplasm around the nucleus, in HT-1080 cells as shown by electrophoretic zymography and the redox indicator NBT assay, respectively. Thus Fucdn-VC-IB markedly exhibits antioxidant and MMP-suppressing activities and preferentially inhibited tumor invasion without cytotoxicity to normal cells, and is suggested as a potent tumor-invasion suppressor.

Cytoprotective effect of fruit extracts associated with antioxidant activity against ultraviolet rays

Antioxidant activity in the extracts of Redfield apple flesh, Pione grape berry skin, and Ishiji satsuma mandarin skin was evaluated by a superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay and hemolysis of red blood cell assay. Although SOD activity was higher in both the Redfield apple flesh and Pione grape berry skin, hemolysis of the red blood cells was delayed most in the Redfield apple flesh, followed by the Pione grape berry skin and Ishiji satsuma mandarin skin. The protective effects of extracts from these fruits against ultraviolet rays were also examined using human skin dermal fibroblasts. The Redfield flesh extract increased the percentage of cell viability against ultraviolet rays compared to the untreated control. The participation of polyphenolics in Redfield apples is discussed.