A Glance into the Destiny of Transcriptomic Activity, Embodied by the HOX Genes, in Neonatal and Aging Dermal Cells.

Skin is an organ having a crucial role in the protection of muscle, bone, and internal organs and undergoing continuous self-renewal and aged. The growing interest in the prevention of skin aging and rejuvenation has sparked a surge of industrial and research studies focusing on the biological and transcriptional changes that occur during skin development and aging. In this study, the aim is to identify transcriptional differences between two main types of human skin cells: the human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and the human epidermis keratinocytes (HEKs) isolated from 30 neonatal and 30 adults (old) skin. Through differentially expressed gene (DEG) profiling using DEseq2, 604 up-, and 769 down-regulated genes are identified in the old group. A functional analysis using Metascape Gene Ontology and Reactome pathways revealed systematic transcriptomic shifts in key skin formation and maintenance markers, alongside a distinct difference in HOX gene families crucial for embryonic development and diverse biological processes. Among the 39 human HOX gene family, ten posterior HOX genes (HOXA10, 11, 13, HOXB13, HOXC11, and HOXD9-13) are significantly downregulated, and anterior 25 genes (HOXA2-7, HOXB1-9, HOXC4-6 and 8-9, and HOXD1,3,4 and 8) are upregulated, especially in the old HDFs. The study successfully demonstrates the correlation between HOX genes and the skin aging process, providing strong evidence that HOX genes are proposed as a new marker for skin aging assessment.

A novel sophorolipids extraction method by yeast fermentation process for enhanced skin efficacy.

AIMS: Oriental herbs have been used as medicines in the folk remedy for their numerous phytochemicals and bioactivities. In this study, we have selected five Korean traditional medical herbs and applied bio conversion extraction technology, named it as Bioconversion Oji complex, to identify phytochemicals and evaluate skin related efficacies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The process of two-step bio conversion was sequentially conducted. The first step of fermentation was to produce biosurfactants using macadamia seed oil with Candida bombicola, and then five natural plants were added to carry out the main fermentation. To evaluate skin improvement efficacy of Bioconversion Oji complex, in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted. We studied HaCaT cells cultured to assess viability, skin anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and barrier improvement-related mRNA expression. For efficacy study, 21 participants were tested evaluating anti-inflammatory, skin moisturizing and skin barrier improving effects of Bioconversion Oji complex compared to Water extraction of Oji (placebo) for the 4 weeks test period. RESULTS: The application of bioconversion technology highly increased the content of amino acids and lipids within Bioconversion Oji complex, and 23 flavonoids were also identified. Bioconversion Oji complex was found to be non-toxic and showed significant effects in all parameters tested, including anti-inflammation, skin moisture, and skin barrier in both in vitro and in clinical studies. CONCLUSIONS: Bioconversion Oji complex has demonstrated skin-friendly properties with significant beneficial effects on anti-inflammatory, skin hydration and barrier function properties. This study provides evidence for the use of Bioconversion Oji complex as an active ingredient in cosmetics and skincare products.

Lipid extract derived from newly isolated Rhodotorula toruloides LAB-07 for cosmetic applications.

Rhodotorula toruloides is a non-conventional yeast with a natural carotenoid pathway. In particular, R. toruloides is an oleaginous yeast that can accumulate lipids in high content, thereby gaining interest as a promising industrial host. In this study, we isolated and taxonomically identified a new R. toruloides LAB-07 strain. De novo genome assembly using PacBio and Illumina hybrid platforms yielded 27 contigs with a 20.78 Mb genome size. Subsequent genome annotation analysis based on RNA-seq predicted 5296 protein-coding genes, including the fatty acid production pathway. We compared lipid production under different media; it was highest in the yeast extract salt medium with glycerol as a carbon source. Polyunsaturated α-linolenic acid was detected among the fatty acids, and docking phosphatidylcholine as a substrate to modeled Fad2, which annotated as Δ12-fatty acid desaturase showed bifunctional Δ12, 15-desaturation is structurally possible in that the distances between the diiron center and the carbon-carbon bond in which desaturation occurs were similar to those of structurally identified mouse stearoyl-CoA desaturase. Finally, the applicability of the extracted total lipid fraction of R. toruloides was investigated, demonstrating an increase in filaggrin expression and suppression of heat-induced MMP-1 expression when applied to keratinocytes, along with the additional antioxidant activity. This work presents a new R. toruloides LAB-07 strain with genomic and lipidomic data, which would help understand the physiology of R. toruloides. Also, the various skin-related effect of R. toruloides lipid extract indicates its potential usage as a promising cosmetic ingredient.

Caviar Extract and Its Constituent DHA Inhibits UVB-Irradiated Skin Aging by Inducing Adiponectin Production.

In this study, caviar (sturgeon eggs) was used to elucidate its roles in adiponectin production and skin anti-aging. Recently, caviar has been largely used not only as a nutritional food, but also in cosmetic products. In particular, it has been reported that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as one of the main phospholipid components of caviar extract, induces intracellular lipid accumulation and the expression of adiponectin in adipocytes. Although adipocytes are well known to be associated with the skin dermis by secreting various factors (e.g., adiponectin), the effects of caviar extract and DHA on the skin are not well studied. Here, we demonstrate the effects of caviar extract and DHA on adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin production, resulting in a preventive role in UV-irradiated skin aging. Caviar extract and DHA enhanced adipocyte differentiation and promoted the synthesis of transcription factors controlling adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) were decreased in UVB-irradiated Hs68 fibroblasts that were cultured in conditioned medium from caviar extract or DHA-treated differentiated adipocytes. Taken together, these results indicate that caviar extract and DHA induce adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin production, thereby inhibiting UVB-induced premature skin aging via the suppression of MMP-1 production.

A Mixture of Extracts of Kochia scoparia and Rosa multiflora with PPAR α/γ Dual Agonistic Effects Prevents Photoaging in Hairless Mice.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) α/γ is known to inhibit the increases in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by ultraviolet light (UV). Extracts of natural herbs, such as Kochia scoparia and Rosa multiflora, have a PPAR α/γ dual agonistic effect. Therefore, we investigated whether and how they have an antiaging effect on photoaging skin. Eighteen-week-old hairless mice were irradiated with UVA 14 J/cm² and UVB 40 mJ/cm² three times a week for 8 weeks. A mixture of extracts of Kochia scoparia and Rosa multiflora (KR) was topically applied on the dorsal skin of photoaging mice twice a day for 8 weeks. Tesaglitazar, a known PPAR α/γ agonist, and vehicle (propylene glycol:ethanol = 7:3, v/v) were applied as positive and negative controls, respectively. Dermal effects (including dermal thickness, collagen density, dermal expression of procollagen 1 and collagenase 13) and epidermal effects (including skin barrier function, epidermal proliferation, epidermal differentiation, and epidermal cytokines) were measured and compared. In photoaging murine skin, KR resulted in a significant recovery of dermal thickness as well as dermal fibroblasts, although it did not change dermal collagen density. KR increased the expression of dermal transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß. The dermal effects of KR were explained by an increase in procollagen 1 expression, induced by TGF-ß, and a decrease in MMP-13 expression. KR did not affect basal transepidermal water loss (TEWL) or stratum corneum (SC) integrity, but did decrease SC hydration. It also did not affect epidermal proliferation or epidermal differentiation. KR decreased the expression of epidermal interleukin (IL)-1α. Collectively, KR showed possible utility as a therapeutic agent for photoaging skin, with few epidermal side effects such as epidermal hyperplasia or poor differentiation.