Radiation-induced Skin Damage Research Articles

Ameliorative effects of paricalcitol against 1800-MHz mobile phone radiation-induced skin damage in rats

This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of paricalcitol, a vitamin D analog, against hazardous effects of 1800-MHz radiofrequency (RF) radiation on the skin of male Wistar albino rats exposed one h/day for 4 weeks. The maximum specific absorption rate was calculated as 0.0042 W/kg. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, collagen bundle thickness, breaking force, energy, and stress were decreased, while malondialdehyde level and mast cell number were increased. The exposure to 1800-MHz RF radiation caused a reduction in skin biomechanical quality through oxidative stress and mast cell activation. The administration of paricalcitol caused a significant improvement.

Observation of preliminary efficacy and nursing care of skin relief cream and Biafine for radiation-induced skin damage in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective To compare the preliminary efficacy and nursing care of radioprotective agent skin relief cream and Biafine for the prevention and treatment of neck radiation-induced skin damage in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods Sixty-seven nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients initially treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Prevention and Control Center from 2016 to 2017 were recruited and assigned into the control (n=36) and experimental groups (n=31). In the control group, Biafine was applied to the skin in the radiation field and radioprotective agent skin relief cream was applied in the experimental group. The degree of radiation skin injury and adverse reactions were statistically compared between two groups. Results No grade IV radiation-induced skin damage occurred in two groups. The incidence rates of grade 1, 2 and 3 radiation-induced skin damage in the experimental group were 45%, 42% and 13%, and 17%, 64% and 19% in the control group, respectively (P=0.04). Radioprotective agent skin relief cream could control the radiation-induced skin injury within grade Ⅱ and significantly increase the proportion of grade I skin injury. Conclusion Medical radioprotective agent is superior to Biafine in the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced skin damage in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Key words: Nasopharyngeal neopalsm/ intensity-modulated radiotherapy; Radiation-induced skin damage; Nursing

Sulforaphane Attenuates Radiation-Induced Skin Damage By Regulating the Effects of Anti-Inflammation and Anti-Oxidation

Radiotherapy (RT) is a major treatment for malignant tumors. Skin changes can be experienced by up to 95% of radiotherapy patients. Inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) have been shown to be generally associated to radiation-induced skin reactions (RISRs). The treatment of RISRs is particularly critical. This study is to observe the protective effect of sulforaphane (SFN) on RISRs. The mechanism of SFN in the prevention and treatment of RISRs will be discussed. We selected C57BL/6J male mice aged 8 weeks. After 1 week of adaptive feeding, we irradiated one thigh of mice at a time under intravenous anesthesia to establish a RISRs model. Mice were randomly allocated into four groups, including control group, SFN group, irradiation (IR) group and IR plus SFN group. SFN group and IR/SFN group were subcutaneously given SFN at 0.5 mg/kg daily in five days of each week for 4 weeks, while mice in the IR group received radiation plus equal amount of normal saline. After 8 weeks, all mice were euthanized for experiments. We used H&E staining to observe the morphological changes of mice skin tissue and TUNEL staining to observe the apoptosis of skin tissue cells. Then we used western-blot and immunohistochemical methods to detect the changes of apoptosis-related indicators including BAX, Bcl2 and caspase-3 in mice skin tissue, as well as the inflammatory response and oxidative stress indexes such as IL-6, TNF-α, 4HNE and 3NT. The results of H&E staining showed that in the mice skin of IR group, significant keratinization of epidermis, destruction of endothelial cells and infiltration of inflammatory cells could be observed. These pathological changes were not obvious in the control group and SFN group, but the skin structure in the IR/SFN group was significantly improved compared with the IR group. TUNEL staining results showed that TUNEL positive cells were significantly increased in the IR group (the TUNEL positive cells were quantitatively analyzed by full positive cells /1000 skin tissue cells). The number of skin apoptosis cells was significantly reduced in the SFN group and IR/SFN group (P<0.05). Western-blot results showed that the proteins expression of BAX, caspase3, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly higher in the IR group, but not in the SFN group. After SFN treatment, the expression of BAX, caspase3, TNF-α and IL-6 was decreased compared with the IR group (P<0.05), while the expression of Bcl2 was decreased in the IR group and increased after SFN intervention (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that the expressions of 4HNE and 3NT in the IR group were significantly increased, while those in the SFN group and IR/SFN group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). SFN can inhibit the inflammatory response and oxidative stress to prevent or alleviate the RISRs.

Effectiveness of the combination of fat grafting and injection on radiation ulcer healing

Fat injections aid in the healing of radiation-induced skin damage. We hypothesized that the direct application of fat grafts to the surfaces of radiation-induced ulcers is also effective. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination treatment comprising fat injections around ulcers and fat grafts on ulcer surfaces. The dorsal skin of inbred rats was irradiated at a single dose of 20 Gy before producing ulcers. After the inguinal fat was harvested using the Coleman technique, the rats were divided into four groups: Group 1, ulcer wounds were covered using dressing materials and staples only; Group 2, fat was injected around the ulcers using a cannula; Group 3, fat was grafted onto ulcer surfaces; and Group 4, a combination of fat injection around the ulcers and fat grafts onto ulcer surfaces was employed. The mean healing time (± standard deviation) of each group was as follows: Group 1, 16.0 ± 2.2 days; Group 2, 14.5 ± 2.0 days; Group 3, 15.2 ± 1.7 days; and Group 4, 13.4 ± 1.0 days. The healing time of Group 4 was significantly shorter than that of Group 1 (p = .0005) and Group 3 (p = .023). In both groups that received fat grafts, fat tissue was observed in the dermis on hematoxylin-eosin-stained slides at 4 and 8 weeks after the ulcers were created. In conclusion, the combination treatment of fat grafted onto ulcer surfaces and injected around ulcers was effective in accelerating the epithelization of radiation-induced ulcers.

The Reparative Effect of Dendrobium officinale Protocorms against Photodamage Caused by UV-Irradiation in Hairless Mice.

Dendrobium officinale protocorms (DOPs) are a specific developmental stage of Dendrobium officinale KIMURA et MIGO, which is used in folk medicine to ease skin issues, such as wrinkles and erythema. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of DOPs on UV irradiation-induced skin damage in bc_nu hairless mice, using matrixyl as a positive control. Hairless mice were randomly separated into 6 groups (8 mice per group). The normal control group received solvent and was not exposed to UV irradiation, while the model control group received solvent and was exposed to UV irradiation. The positive control group was subjected to UV irradiation and then received a 10 mg/mL formulation of matrixyl. The DOPs-treated groups received a transdermal application of a DOPs formulation after 4 weeks of UV irradiation. Relevant indicators, such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), were then used to evaluate the ability of DOPs to repair photodamage. The results indicated that DOPs significantly reduced erythema and protected the skin from dryness and therefore exhibits a significant anti-photoaging effect. In addition, the expression of CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px increased while TBARS and MMPs levels decreased in DOPs-treated mice. This demonstrated that DOPs can inhibit photodamage in the skin of hairless mice. DOPs could be used as a potential therapeutic agent to protect the skin against UV-induced photoaging.

Xeroderma pigmentosum with ocular involvement and squamous cell carcinoma: A case report

Xeroderma Pigmentosum is a rare, autosomal recessive genetic disorder, characterized by defective DNA repair leading to clinical and cellular hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation and carcinogenic agents. Patients with xeroderma pigmentosum often have cutaneous and ocular sun sensitivity and freckle-like skin pigmentation. Skin changes are the most important symptoms and they manifest as erythema, painful blisters and ulceration. The last level of skin changes transformation are malignant neoplasms, particularly squamous cell carcinoma. There is a great involvement of many parts of the body, especially the head and neck. This paper describes a case of xeroderma pigmentosum with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and ocular lesions in a nine-year-old boy. The extensive ultraviolet radiation-induced skin and eye damage are evidence of a failure to use sun-protection and a lack of appropriate medical care from childhood.

Protective Activity of Silk Sericin against UV Radiation-Induced Skin Damage by Downregulating Oxidative Stress.

Topical delivery ofpotential antioxidants protects the skin against ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced oxidative damage through maintaining redox balance. Sericin, one of the major components of silk, possesses antioxidant property along with skin-protective activity against UVB radiation-induced damage. However, the protective activity of silk sericin (SS) extracted from different sources has not been explored against UVA and UVB radiation-induced oxidative damage. In the present study, we have systematically investigated the protective activity of sericin against UVA and UVB radiation-induced skin damage. MTT and neutral red assays showed that Philosamia ricini sericin (PRS) and Antheraea assamensis sericin (AAS) (10 μg/mL) treatment prior to UVA (12 J/cm2) and UVB (120 mJ/cm2) irradiations enhanced the viability of human keratinocytes. Examination of cell cycle arrest and apoptotic/necrotic cell death using flow cytometry showed that sericin treatment before UVA and UVB irradiation protected the cells from apoptotic cell death by arresting the cell cycle at G1 phase. Sericin pretreatment downregulated the interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, upregulated p53 and decrease the dysregulation of Bcl-2/Bax gene expression. AAS treatment prior to UVB irradiation significantly reduced skin inflammation, DNA fragmentation, and lipid peroxidation in the female SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. Altogether, our results substantiate the use of AAS in effectively ameliorating UVA and UVB radiation-induced skin damage, which holds prospects as a potent antioxidant supplement in the preparation of skin care products.

Protective effects of hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) polyphenol extract against UVB-induced skin damage by modulating the p53 mitochondrial pathway in vitro and in vivo.

This study investigated the effect of a hawthorn polyphenol extract (HPE) on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced damage in HaCaT cells and mice. High-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze the phenolic composition of HPE. The protective effects of HPE and its main components were compared in HaCaT cells. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect DNA damage (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels). Flow cytometry and western blotting were used to measure the extent of apoptosis and the levels of apoptosis-related proteins, respectively. Treatment with HPE or its polyphenol components inhibited the UVB-induced damage by removing an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing DNA damage and p53 activation, regulating the protein expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 family members toward antiapoptotic ratios, and reducing caspase activation. Similar effects were observed in a UVB-irradiated mouse skin, as detected using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting assays. These results suggest that HPE can be used as a natural dietary supplement for the prevention and treatment of UVB radiation-induced skin damage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering effects. As natural, healthy, and effective additives, HPEs have been widely used in food and health products. The results of this study reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying HPE effects, showing that HPE reverses the effects of UVB irradiation via removal of an excess of ROS and reduction of DNA damage and p53 expression in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, HPE upregulates the expression of antiapoptotic BCL-2 and downregulates that of proapoptotic BAX, thereby reducing the activation of caspase-3/9 and inhibiting apoptosis. These findings suggest that HPE can be used as the base ingredient for antiphotoaging food products. This study provides both theoretical and experimental background for hawthorn deep processing and utilization.

Линейно-квадратичная модель в планировании нейтронной терапии на циклотроне У-120

Purpose: To estimate the feasibility of using linear-quadratic model (LQM) for planning neutron therapy regimens by the criterion of early radiation-induced reactions. &#x0D; Material and methods: The LQM, which described the reaction of tissues to fractionated irradiation, was used. The results obtained were compared with similar results found on the basis of the TDF model successfully used for neutron therapy planning.&#x0D; Results: The LQM parameters αn and βn for radiation induced skin damage were found. The dependence of a single dose of neutrons on the number of therapy sessions was obtained. This dependence was in good agreement with the analogous dependence found by the TDF model, which indicated the correctness of the method for calculating it. When using LQM for planning neutron therapy, the issue related with the time intervals between sessions was considered. For this purpose, the comparative calculations of the ratio of the total effect, determined by the LQM, and the TDF factor were carried out. The difference between the compared values did not exceed 6 %, thus allowing the time interval for planning neutron therapy using LQM to be excluded. &#x0D; Two methods to control the damage to normal tissue using LQM were considered. The first method was based on the evaluation of part of the used tolerance of the irradiated tissue, and the second one was carried out by transferring the applied dose fractionation regimen of neutron therapy to the isoeffective standard regimen of photon therapy.&#x0D; Conclusion: It was shown that LQM can be used for planning neutron therapy regimens in cancer patients by the criterion of early radiation-induced reactions. The results obtained extend the potential of radiobiological planning of neutron therapy and can serve as a basis for the development of the method of using LQM in prediction of late radiation-induced complications.

Seeing the fate and mechanism of stem cells in treatment of ionizing radiation-induced injury using highly near-infrared emissive AIE dots

Ionizing radiation-induced skin injury is a common and severe side effect of radiotherapy suffered by cancer patients. Although the therapy using stem cells has been demonstrated to be effective, fully grasping their role in the repair of radiation-induced skin damage remains challenging owing to the lack of highly reliable cell trackers. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a highly near-infrared emissive organic nanodots with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristic, which give excellent performance in seeing the fate and regenerative mechanism of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in treatment of radiation-induced skin injury. The resultant AIE dots show a rather high quantum yield of 33% in aqueous media, prominent retention ability in ADSCs without leakage, good biocompatibility during the ADSC differentiation and proliferation as well as excellent injury relief capability on radiation-induced endothelial cells injury. In vivo studies reveal that the AIE dots are capable of serving as an effective fluorescent cell tracker to precisely trace the behavior of the transplanted ADSCs in radiation-induced skin injury-bearing mice and help to understand the ADSCs therapeutic mechanism for at least one month. This study will provide new materials and insights into the stem cell therapy of radiation-induced injury.

Novel Means for Photoprotection.

Due to changes in human lifestyle (expanded sunbathing, the use of solaria, etc.) and, most importantly, increasing lifetime and thus higher cumulative exposure to solar radiation, skin aging and skin cancer have become major health issues. As a consequence effective photoprotection is of outmost importance to humans. In this regard a lot has been learned in the past about the cellular and molecular basis underlying ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced skin damage and, based on this knowledge, numerous skin protective approaches including organic and inorganic UV-filters, but also topically applicable antioxidants, DNA repair enzymes and compatible solutes as well as oral photoprotective strategies based on nutritional supplements have been developed. A new aspect is here that sun protection of human skin might even be possible after solar radiation-induced skin damage has occurred. A second, very important development was prompted by the discovery that also wavelengths beyond the UV spectrum can damage human skin. These include the blue light region of visible light (VIS) as well as the near infrared range (IRA) and corresponding sunprotection strategies have thus recently been or are still being developed. In this article we will provide a state of the art summary of these two novel developments and, at the end, we will also critically discuss strengths and weaknesses of the current attempts, which mainly focus on the prevention of skin damage by selected wavelengths but greatly ignore the possibility that wavelengths might interfere with each other. Such combined effects, however, need to be taken into account if photoprotection of human skin is intended to be global in nature.

18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid mitigates radiation-induced skin damage via NADPH oxidase/ROS/p38MAPK and NF-κB pathways

Radiation-induced inflammation plays an important role in radiation-induced tissue injury. 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) has shown an anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to assess the activity of 18β-GA against radiation-induced skin damage, and explore the underlying mechanisms. In vitro assay revealed 18β-GA treatment decreased the production of IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2 and decreased p38MAPK phosphorylation, DNA-binding activity of AP-1, and NF-κB activation in irradiated RAW264.7 macrophages. Additionally, 18β-GA suppressed NF-κB activation by inhibiting NF-κB/p65 and IκB-α phosphorylation and alleviated ROS overproduction in irradiated RAW264.7 macrophages. In vivo assay showed 18β-GA alleviated severity of radiation-induced skin damage, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in cutaneous tissues. Our findings demonstrate that 18β-GA exhibits anti-inflammatory actions against radiation-induced skin damage probably by inhibiting NADPH oxidase activity, ROS production, activation of p38MAPK and NF-κB signaling, and the DNA binding activities of NF-κB and AP-1, consequently suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Orobanche cernua Loefling Attenuates Ultraviolet B-mediated Photoaging in Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

UV radiation is the primary cause of skin photoaging, which results in an increase in matrix metalloproteinases and degradation of collagen. Developing new natural antioxidant as photoprotective agents has become a popular area of research. Orobanche cernua Loefling is a parasitic plant that is rich in phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs). This study investigated the photoprotective effects of the ethanolic extract of Orobanche cernua Loefling (OC) and its principal component acteoside on UVB-induced photoaging as well as their underlying molecular mechanisms in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). Biological testing demonstrated that OC and acteoside possessed significant photoprotective activities, reducing MMP and IL-6 levels while improving type-I procollagen synthesis in UVB-irradiated NHDFs. Further study showed that the protective mechanisms were the improvement of transcription factor Nrf2-mediated antioxidant defensive system, suppression of MAPK/AP-1 and activation of the TGF-β/Smad pathway. Together, our results suggested that OC might be a promising antiphotoaging agent against UV radiation-induced skin damage.

Evaluation of the effect of hesperidin on vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in rat skin animal models following cobalt-60 gamma irradiation.

Skin is highly prone to radiation damage. Radiation burn is defined as damage to the skin or other biological tissues induced by radiofrequency or ionizing radiation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a heparin-binded pro-angiogenic factor. Flavonoids belong to a family of polyphenol chemical compounds that are frequently present in fruits and vegetables. Hesperidin is an agent belonging to the flavonoid family. The aim of this study is to investigate whether hesperidin can affect the VEGF gene expression in rat skin following gamma irradiation or not. A total number of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. First group: radiation group (n = 12), second group: radiation + hesperidin-treated group (n = 12), and third group: untreated control group (n = 12). The hesperidin administration dose was 100 mg/kg body weight. The rats received a 22 Gy single dose at a dose rate of about 0.3 Gy/min using a cobalt-60 external beam radiotherapy unit. The animals were euthanized 24 h postirradiation. VEGF gene expression data were analyzed using the equation 2-ΔΔCT, where ΔΔCT = (Threshold cycle [CT], of target gene - CT of housekeeping gene)treated group- (CT of target gene - CT of housekeeping gene)untreated control group. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene was used as a housekeeping gene. VEGF gene in the radiation + hesperidin group overexpressed 25-fold relative to the control group. In addition, VEGF gene in the radiation group underexpressed 0.15-fold relative to the control group. When the three groups were compared relative to each other using the Kruskal-Wallis test, P < 0.001 was obtained. Based on the Mann-Whitney U-test, when all groups were compared to each in a binary model, P = 0.001 was achieved. These tests all showed statistically significant changes in VEGF gene expression. We can conclude that hesperidin is a potent angiogenic factor. Hesperidin as a radioprotector can initiate angiogenesis by VEGF gene induction. It may stimulate epithelialization, collagen deposition, and enhanced cellular proliferation. These changes can together accelerate wound healing, in particular, radiation-induced skin damage.

N-acetylcysteine in dermatology.

N-acetylcysteine is a mucolytic drug which is commonly used as an antidote for acetaminophen toxicity. It is a thiol compound, which acts as a donor of cysteine, leading to replenishment of glutathione and thus acts as an antioxidant. It also has anti-inflammatory effects, alters the levels of neurotransmitters, inhibits proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes and causes vasodilatation. Due to these actions, n-acetylcysteine has found use in several dermatologic conditions in systemic and topical form. The drug has been used as an adjuvant in the management of conditions such as toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug hypersensitivity syndrome, trichotillomania, skin picking disorders and onychotillomania, ichthyoses, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, melasma, pseudoporphyria, connective tissue diseases, wound healing and alopecia. It also has a role in protection from radiation-induced skin damage including photo-ageing, photocarcinogenesis and radiation dermatitis. Most indications in dermatology are supported by case reports, small case series and small trials. Higher quality of evidence is needed for its wider use. The drug is cheap and is generally safe with few adverse effects. Thus a greater role is possible for use of n-acetylcysteine in various skin conditions. This review explores the various uses of n-acetylcysteine in the field of dermatology, the evidence supporting the same, the possible mechanisms of action and the adverse effects of the drug.

The Nrf2/GCH1/BH4 Axis Ameliorates Radiation-Induced Skin Injury by Modulating the ROS Cascade

Radiation-induced skin injury is a common side effect of radiotherapy and can limit the duration and dose of radiotherapy. Most early work focused on elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after radiation; however, less is known about the mechanisms underlying amplification of ROS and consequent skin injury by radiation. 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for all nitric oxide synthases. Inadequate availability of BH4 leads to uncoupling of nitric oxide synthases and production of highly oxidative radicals. In this study, we demonstrated that radiation disrupted BH4, which resulted in nitric oxide synthases uncoupling and augmented radiation-induced ROS. Overexpression of GTP cyclohydrolase I (GCH1), the rate-limiting enzyme for BH4 synthesis, restored cellular BH4 levels and nitric oxide production and decreased radiation-induced ROS. GCH1 also protected skin cells and rat skins against radiation-induced damage. We found that GCH1 was regulated by NF-E2-related factor 2, a key mediator of the cellular antioxidant response. Importantly, we identified GCH1 as a key effector for NF-E2-related factor 2-mediated protection against radiation-induced skin injury by inhibiting ROS production. Taken together, the findings of this study illustrate the key role of the NF-E2-related factor 2/GCH1/BH4 axis during radiation-induced skin damage.

Trans-chalcone added in topical formulation inhibits skin inflammation and oxidative stress in a model of ultraviolet B radiation skin damage in hairless mice

Trans-chalcone (TC) is a common precursor of flavonoids. However, the pharmacological properties of TC remain to be fully understood. The present study investigated whether topical formulation containing TC (TFcTC) presents therapeutic effect in UVB radiation-induced skin damage using disease, enzyme activity, antioxidant activity, protein and mRNA parameters. Control topical formulation (CTF) and TFcTC were applied in hairless mice before and after exposure to UVB radiation. Dorsal skin samples were collected after UVB exposure to evaluate: i) skin edema (weight) was measured by punch biopsy; ii) spectrophotometric assays were used to measure myeloperoxidase (MPO) and catalase activities, ferric (FRAP) and ABTS cation reducing antioxidant power, superoxide anion production and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH); iii) enzymography was used to measure matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity; iv) chemiluminescence was used to measure the lipid peroxidation (LPO); v) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels; vi) reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to measure cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), gp91phox (NADPH oxidase sub-unity), glutathione peroxidase-1 (Gpx1), glutathione reductase (Gr), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA expression. TFcTC inhibited UVB-induced skin edema, MPO activity, MMP-9 activity, TNF-α production, and COX-2 mRNA expression. TFcTC inhibited UVB-induced LPO, down-regulated superoxide anion levels and gp91phox mRNA expression, and improved antioxidant potential and GSH skin levels. The mRNA expression of detoxification systems such as Nrf2, HO-1, Gpx1 and Gr, and catalase activity were also enhanced by treatment with TFcTC. In conclusion, TFcTC protects mice skin from UVB radiation by inhibiting inflammation, and improving antioxidant and detoxification systems. Therefore, topical treatment with TC is a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of UVB radiation skin damages, which merits further pre-clinical and clinical investigation.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Shungite against Ultraviolet B Irradiation-Induced Skin Damage in Hairless Mice.

As fullerene-based compound applications have been rapidly increasing in the health industry, the need of biomedical research is urgently in demand. While shungite is regarded as a natural source of fullerene, it remains poorly documented. Here, we explored the in vivo effects of shungite against ultraviolet B- (UVB-) induced skin damage by investigating the physiological skin parameters, immune-redox profiling, and oxidative stress molecular signaling. Toward this, mice were UVB-irradiated with 0.75 mW/cm2 for two consecutive days. Consecutively, shungite was topically applied on the dorsal side of the mice for 7 days. First, we found significant improvements in the skin parameters of the shungite-treated groups revealed by the reduction in roughness, pigmentation, and wrinkle measurement. Second, the immunokine profiling in mouse serum and skin lysates showed a reduction in the proinflammatory response in the shungite-treated groups. Accordingly, the redox profile of shungite-treated groups showed counterbalance of ROS/RNS and superoxide levels in serum and skin lysates. Last, we have confirmed the involvement of Nrf2- and MAPK-mediated oxidative stress pathways in the antioxidant mechanism of shungite. Collectively, the results clearly show that shungite has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action against UVB-induced skin damage in hairless mice.

Skin delivery of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and hyaluronic acid loaded nano-transfersomes for antioxidant and anti-aging effects in UV radiation induced skin damage

The present work attempts to develop and statistically optimize transfersomes containing EGCG and hyaluronic acid to synergize the UV radiation-protective ability of both compounds, along with imparting antioxidant and anti-aging effects. Transfersomes were prepared by thin film hydration technique, using soy phosphatidylcholine and sodium cholate, combined with high-pressure homogenization. They were characterized with respect to size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, morphology, entrapment efficiency, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), in vitro antioxidant activity and ex vivo skin permeation studies. Cell viability, lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS levels and expression of MMPs (2 and 9) were determined in human keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT). The composition of the transfersomes was statistically optimized by Design of Experiments using Box–Behnken design with four factors at three levels. The optimized transfersome formulation showed vesicle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of 101.2 ± 6.0 nm, 0.245 ± 0.069 and −44.8 ± 5.24 mV, respectively. FTIR and DSC showed no interaction between EGCG and the selected excipients. XRD results revealed no form conversion of EGCG in its transfersomal form. The optimized transfersomes were found to increase the cell viability and reduce the lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS and expression of MMPs in HaCaT cells. The optimized transfersomal formulation of EGCG and HA exhibited considerably higher skin permeation and deposition of EGCG than that observed with plain EGCG. The results underline the potential application of the developed transfersomes in sunscreen cream/lotions for improvement of UV radiation-protection along with deriving antioxidant and anti-aging effects.

Hesperidin ameliorates UV radiation-induced skin damage by abrogation of oxidative stress and inflammatory in HaCaT cells

Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation contributes to skin photoaging. Hesperidin which is a flavanone glycoside found in citrus fruit peels, have been intensively studied for their UVA-protective activity, but its effects and mechanisms on UVA irradiation-induced inflammation and oxidative stress have never been described. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hesperidin in skin oxidative stress and inflammation induced by UVA irradiation. In this study, we firstly examined whether hesperidin may exert direct protective effects on the UVA-induced in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cell injury in vitro. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) were measured by using a commercially available kits. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) and ELISA were used to determine messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. UVA significantly decreased the cell viability (P<0.05). In our study, hesperidin (220μg/ml) significantly reduced UVA-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response. In conclusion, hesperidin treatment effectively protected HaCaT keratinocytes from these UVA radiation-induced skin injuries, suggesting that the underlying mechanism involves the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory capacities, it is possible to be used as a sunscreen agent.