Development of S-Methylmethionine Sulfonium Derivatives and Their Skin-Protective Effect against Ultraviolet Exposure

In a previous study, we have demonstrated that S-methylmethionine sulfonium (SMMS) confers wound-healing and photoprotective effects on the skin, suggesting that SMMS can be used as a cosmetic raw material. However, it has an unpleasant odor. Therefore, in the present study, we synthesized odor-free SMMS derivatives by eliminating dimethyl sulfide, which is the cause of the unpleasant odor and identified two derivatives that exhibited skin-protective effects: one derivative comprised (2S,4S)- and (2R,4S)-2-phenylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and the other comprised (2S,4R)-, (2S,4S)-, (2R,4R)-, and (2R,4S)-2-phenyl-1,3-thiazinane-4-carboxylic acid. We performed in vitro proliferation assays using human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) and an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). The two SMMS derivatives were shown to increase hDF and HaCaT cell proliferation as well as improve their survival by protecting against ultraviolet exposure. Moreover, the derivatives regulated the expression of collagen type I and MMP mRNAs against ultraviolet exposure in hDFs, suggesting that these derivatives can be developed as cosmetic raw materials.

Regulation of DREAM Expression by Group I mGluR

DREAM (downstream regulatory element antagonistic modulator) is a calcium-binding protein that regulates dynorphin expression, promotes potassium channel surface expression, and enhances presenilin processing in an expression level-dependent manner. However, no molecular mechanism has yet explained how protein levels of DREAM are regulated. Here we identified group I mGluR (mGluR1/5) as a positive regulator of DREAM protein expression. Overexpression of mGluR1/5 increased the cellular level of DREAM. Up-regulation of DREAM resulted in increased DREAM protein in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, where the protein acts as a transcriptional repressor and a modulator of its interacting proteins, respectively. DHPG (3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine), a group I mGluR agonist, also up-regulated DREAM expression in cortical neurons. These results suggest that group I mGluR is the first identified receptor that may regulate DREAM activity in neurons.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the Promoter Region of H1 Histone Family Member N, Testis-specific (H1FNT) and Its Association Study with Male Infertility

The H1 histone family, member N, testis-specific (H1FNT) is exclusively expressed in the testis, and had its possible role for sperm chromatin formation. The purpose of this study is to investigate any genetic association of H1FNT gene with male infertility, especially at the promoter region. We examined the promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of H1FNT gene which is located within transcription factor binding site for its association with male infertility. The statistical analysis showed that the -1129A>T polymorphism was present at a statistically significance in male infertility (p=0.0059 and 0.0349 for hetero and risk type, respectively). The dual-luciferase promoter assay was performed to examine the polymorphic effect of this promoter SNP by the cloning of promoter region (1700bp fragment) into pGL3-basic vector. In our plasmid based reporter system, there is no big difference between wild and risk type. In conclusion, H1FNT -1129A>T promoter SNP is statistically significant with male infertility, especially with subfertile (non-azoospermia) group. Further analysis of its functional polymorphic effect in vivo may provide the biological significance of testis-specific histone with spermatogenesis.

Zinc Inhibits Amyloid beta Production from Alzheimer's Amyloid Precursor Protein in SH-SY5Y Cells

Zinc released from excited glutamatergic neurons accelerates amyloid beta (A beta) aggregation, underscoring the therapeutic potential of zinc chelation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Zinc can also alter A beta concentration by affecting its degradation. In order to elucidate the possible role of zinc influx in secretase-processed A beta production, SH-SY5Y cells stably expressing amyloid precursor protein (APP) were treated with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a zinc ionophore, and the resultant changes in APP processing were examined. PDTC decreased A beta40 and A beta42 concentrations in culture media bathing APP-expressing SH-SY5Y cells. Measuring the levels of a series of C-terminal APP fragments generated by enzymatic cutting at different APP-cleavage sites showed that both beta- and alpha-cleavage of APP were inhibited by zinc influx. PDTC also interfered with the maturation of APP. PDTC, however, paradoxically increased the intracellular levels of A beta40. These results indicate that inhibition of secretase-mediated APP cleavage accounts -at least in part- for zinc inhibition of A beta secretion.

Heparin Attenuates the Expression of TNF alpha-induced Cerebral Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule

Heparin is a well-known anticoagulant widely used in various clinical settings. Interestingly, recent studies have indicated that heparin also has anti-inflammatory effects on neuroinflammation-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and meningitis. However, the underlying mechanism of its actions remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory mechanism of heparin in cultured cerebral endothelial cells (CECs), and found that heparin inhibited the tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF alpha)-induced and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B)-dependent expression of adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), which are crucial for inflammatory responses. Heparin selectively interfered with NF-kappa B DNA-binding activity in the nucleus, which is stimulated by TNF alpha. In addition, non-anticoagulant 2,3-O desulfated heparin (ODS) prevented NF-kappa B activation by TNF alpha, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of heparin action in CECs lies in heparin's ability to inhibit the expression of cell adhesion molecules, as opposed to its anticoagulant actions.

Inhibition of NF-kappaB Activation Increases Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation-Induced Cerebral Endothelial Cell Death

Increasing evidences suggest that ischemia-induced vascular damage is an integral step in the cascade of the cellular and molecular events initiated by cerebral ischemia. In the present study, employing a mouse brain endothelioma-derived cell line, bEnd.3, and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) as an in vitro stroke model, the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation during ischemic injury was investigated. OGD was found to activate NF-kappaB and to induce bEnd.3 cell death in a time-dependent manner. OGD phosphorylated neither 32 Ser nor 42 Tyr of IkappaBalpha. OGD did not change the amount of IkappaB alpha. The extents of OGD-induced cell death after 8 h, 10 h, 12 h and 14 h of OGD were 10%, 35%, 60% and 85%, respectively. Reperfusion following OGD did not cause additional cell death, indicating no reperfusion injury after ischemic insult in cerebral endothelial cells. Three known as NF-kappaB inhibitors, including pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) plus zinc, aspirin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), inhibited OGD-induced NF-kappaB activation and increased OGD-induced bEnd.3 cell death in a dose dependent manner. There were no changes in the protein levels of bcl-2, bax and p53 which are modulated by NF-kappaB activity. These results suggest that NF-kappaB activation might be a protective mechanism for OGD-induced cell death in bEnd.3.