ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-like compound derived from Pantoea agglomerans (immunopotentiator from Pantoea agglomerans 1 (IP-PA1)) has been used not only as dietary supplement or cosmetic for humans, but also by Japanese veterinarians as an anti-tumor, anti-allergy, "keep a fine coat of fur" and hair growth-promoting functional food for dogs and cats. In the present study, we focused on the hair growth-promoting effects of IP-PA1 on a hair-shaved animal model and its mechanism of action. We also investigated its potential on gene expression after stimulating human dermal papilla cells with IP-PA1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hair on the back of a C3H/HeN mouse was shaved and IP-PA1 was orally administered or applied to the skin. The status of hair growth was observed and recorded for 14 days. Skin was collected and histological tissue examination was performed with respect to hair growth status using hematoxylin and eosin staining. After IP-PA1 administration (2 and 10 µg/ml) to human dermal papilla cell culture system for 24 h, fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. RESULTS: IP-PA1, when given orally, showed a tendency to promote hair growth in mice. In addition, skin application also significantly promoted hair growth, while histopathological examinations further demonstrated hair elongation from dermal papilla cells. In the human dermal papilla cell culture system, significant FGF-7 and VEGF mRNA expressions were observed (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: An underlying mechanism of gene expression by which IP-PA1 promotes hair growth was suggested to be different from that of medicine and traditional hair tonics, such as minoxidil and adenosine.
Subject(s)
Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology , Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Hair/growth & development , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Epidermal Cells , Epidermis/drug effects , Gene Expression Regulation/immunology , Humans , Male , Mice, Inbred C3H , Middle Aged , Pantoea/chemistryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: Oligonol® (OLG) is a low-molecular-weight lychee fruit polyphenol mainly containing catechin-type monomers and oligomers of proanthocyanidins. Dietary OLG supplementation reportedly improves lipid metabolism disorder and lowers the visceral fat level in animal and human studies. Thus, we investigated the mechanism behind the protective and beneficial effects of OLG on a Western diet (WD)-induced metabolic syndrome (MetS) of a murine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the C57BL/6J mouse for the MetS model, mice were divided into three groups: control (normal diet: ND), Western diet (WD) and WD + 0.5% OLG (OLG) groups. The WD group was fed a high-calorie (high fructose plus high fat) diet for 12 weeks to develop MetS. At week 12, all mice were sacrificed and the blood and liver were obtained for histological and biological examinations and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). RESULTS: Body weight, liver weight, plasma triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (T-Cho) and alanine aminotransferase (ATS) levels of both OLG groups were significantly lower than those of the WD group. On histological examination of the liver, the area of fatty deposits was shown to be suppressed by OLG administration. Expression gene analysis in the liver of WD- versus OLG-fed mice by RNA-Seq showed that 464/45,706 genes exhibited a significant change of expression (corrected p-value <0.05, absolute value of fold change (FC) ≥2). Gene network analysis showed that genes related to hepatic steatosis, liver inflammation and tumor invasion were inactivated in the OLG group. In particular, the lipid metabolism-related genes Lpin1, Adig and Cidea were regulated by OLG administration. CONCLUSION: OLG may function to suppress MetS and the progression of geriatric diseases in WD-fed mice by regulating the expression of lipid metabolism, inflammation and tumor-related genes in the liver.
Subject(s)
Catechin/analogs & derivatives , Liver/metabolism , Metabolic Syndrome/drug therapy , Phenols/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Animals , Catechin/pharmacology , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Fruit , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Regulatory Networks , Litchi , Liver/drug effects , Male , Metabolic Syndrome/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Molecular Weight , TranscriptomeABSTRACT
Polyporus Sclerotium botanically from the Polyporus umbellatus (PERS.) FRIES, was traditionally used for the purpose of promoting diuresis. The present study investigated the diuretic effect of ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (ergone) which is a maker component according to the chemical assay for its quality standardization. It resulted in a reversion to ordinary value of the urinary ratio of Na/K in deoxycoricosterone acetate (DOCA)-treated and adrenalectomized rats, although it had no this effect on the Na or K contents as well as Na/K value both in normal rats and in adrenalectomized rats without DOCA. These data indicate that ergone possesses an anti-aldosteronic diuretic effect. Moreover, it was identified in the blood and bile of rats after its administration to the gastrointestinal tract. The above results demonstrate that it is an active component of Polyporus Sclerotium.
