Oxidative stress in the skin barrier: Implications for stratum corneum antioxidants

The generation of reactive oxygen species presents a destructive challenge for the skin organ and there is a clear need to advance skin care formulations aiming at alleviating oxidative stress. The aim of this work was to characterize the activity of the antioxidative enzyme catalase in keratinocytes and in the skin barrier (i.e., the stratum corneum). Further, the goal was to compare the activity levels with the corresponding catalase activity found in defatted algae biomass, which may serve as a source of antioxidative enzymes, as well as other beneficial algae-derived molecules, to be employed in skin care products. For this, an oxygen electrode-based method was employed to determine the catalase activity and the apparent kinetic parameters for purified catalase, as well as catalase naturally present in HaCaT keratinocytes, excised stratum corneum samples collected from pig ears with various amounts of melanin, and defatted algae biomass from the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Taken together, this work illustrates the versatility of the oxygen electrode-based method for characterizing catalase function in samples with a high degree of complexity and enables the assessment of sample treatment protocols and comparisons between different biological systems related to the skin organ or algae-derived materials as a potential source of skin care ingredients for combating oxidative stress.

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Changes in corneocyte element concentrations occur in skin inner stratum corneum

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100134326 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 146-147

Author(s):

R. R. Warner

Keyword(s):

Stratum Corneum ◽

Human Skin ◽

Element Concentration ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Barrier Properties ◽

Brick Wall ◽

Inorganic Elements ◽

Dry Skin ◽

Skin Biopsies ◽

Intercellular Lipid

Keratinocytes undergo maturation during their transit through the viable layers of skin, and then abruptly transform into flattened, anuclear corneocytes that constitute the cellular component of the skin barrier, the stratum corneum (SC). The SC is generally considered to be homogeneous in its structure and barrier properties, and is often shown schematically as a featureless brick wall, the “bricks” being the corneocytes, the “mortar” being intercellular lipid. Previously we showed the outer SC was not homogeneous in its composition, but contained steep gradients of the physiological inorganic elements Na, K and Cl, likely originating from sweat salts. Here we show the innermost corneocytes in human skin are also heterogeneous in composition, undergoing systematic changes in intracellular element concentration during transit into the interior of the SC.Human skin biopsies were taken from the lower leg of individuals with both “good” and “dry” skin and plunge-frozen in a stirred, cooled isopentane/propane mixture.

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Chemical ultraviolet absorbers topically applied in a skin barrier mimetic formulation remain in the outer stratum corneum of porcine skin

International Journal of Pharmaceutics ◽

10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.06.041 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 510 (1) ◽

pp. 250-254 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

T. Haque ◽

J.M. Crowther ◽

M.E. Lane ◽

D.J. Moore

Keyword(s):

Stratum Corneum ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Porcine Skin ◽

Ultraviolet Absorbers

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Assessment of Human Skin Gene Expression by Different Blends of Plant Extracts with Implications to Periorbital Skin Aging

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms19113349 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (11) ◽

pp. 3349 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jin Namkoong ◽

Dale Kern ◽

Helen Knaggs

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Gene Expression ◽

Human Skin ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Skin Aging ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers ◽

Stress Biomarkers ◽

And Oxidative Stress

Since the skin is the major protective barrier of the body, it is affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Environmental influences such as ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, pollution or dry/cold air are involved in the generation of radical oxygen species (ROS) and impact skin aging and dermal health. Assessment of human skin gene expression and other biomarkers including epigenetic factors are used to evaluate the biological/molecular activities of key compounds in cosmetic formulas. The objective of this study was to quantify human gene expression when epidermal full-thickness skin equivalents were exposed to: (a) a mixture of betaine, pentylene glycol, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Rhodiola rosea root extract (BlendE) for antioxidant, skin barrier function and oxidative stress (with hydrogen peroxide challenge); and (b) a mixture of Narcissus tazetta bulb extract and Schisandra chinensis fruit extract (BlendIP) for various biomarkers and microRNA analysis. For BlendE, several antioxidants, protective oxidative stress biomarkers and many skin barrier function parameters were significantly increased. When BlendE was evaluated, the negative impact of the hydrogen peroxide was significantly reduced for the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP 3 and MMP 12), the skin aging and oxidative stress biomarkers, namely FBN2, ANXA1 and HGF. When BlendIP was tested for cell proliferation and dermal structural components to enhance the integrity of the skin around the eyes: 8 growth factors, 7 signaling, 7 structural/barrier function and 7 oxidative stress biomarkers were significantly increased. Finally, when BlendIP was tested via real-time RT-PCR for microRNA expression: miR-146a, miR-22, miR155, miR16 and miR21 were all significantly increased over control levels. Therefore, human skin gene expression studies are important tools to assess active ingredient compounds such as plant extract blends to advance dermal hypotheses toward validating cosmetic formulations with botanical molecules.

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Role of Centella asiatica and ceramide in skin barrier improvement: a double blind clinical trial of Indonesian batik workers

Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0510 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 589-593

Author(s):

Sylvia Anggraeni ◽

Menul Ayu Umborowati ◽

Damayanti Damayanti ◽

Anang Endaryanto ◽

Cita Rosita Sigit Prakoeswa

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Contact Dermatitis ◽

Stratum Corneum ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Centella Asiatica ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Double Blind ◽

Stratum Corneum Hydration ◽

Double Blind Clinical Trial

Abstract Objectives Batik dyes contain irritant chemicals that increase the risk of skin barrier disruption. This study aims to determine the effect of Centella asiatica and ceramide in transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration of the stratum corneum and skin acidity (pH). Methods This was a double blind clinical trial of 30 Indonesian batik workers who suffered from skin dryness, but had no clinical manifestation of contact dermatitis. Subjects were given cream containing C. asiatica or ceramide that formulated and randomly labeled by manufacturer (PT Paragon Technology and Innovation). Both subjects and researchers were blinded to the type of the cream. Cream was applied to the hands and arms twice a day. Biological function of the skin (TEWL, stratum corneum hydration level, and skin acidity) was examined by Cutometer dual MP-580. Baseline was recorded in the first examination, followed by second and third examinations at two and four weeks after treatment. Results After four weeks treatment, there were significant improvement of C. asiatica application in evaluation of corneometer palmar (p=0.007; CI 95%), corneometer dorsum (p=0.001; CI 95%), and skin acidity dorsum (p=0.017; CI 95%). Ceramide application also gave significant improvement of corneometer palmar (0.038; CI 95%), skin acidity palmar (p=0.001; CI 95%), TEWL dorsum (p=0.023; CI 95%), corneometer dorsum (p=0.002; CI 95%) and skin acidity dorsum (p=0.011; CI 95%). There were no significant differences of C. asiatica effectiveness compared to ceramide in skin barrier improvement. Conclusions C. asiatica and ceramide can improve skin barrier hydration in order to prevent the risk of contact dermatitis in batik workers.

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Beneficial effects of oral supplementation with ferulic acid, a plant phenolic compound, on the human skin barrier in healthy men

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000699 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Atsushi Suzuki ◽

Tomoko Nomura ◽

Hiroko Jokura ◽

Naoya Kitamura ◽

Akihiko Fujii ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ferulic Acid ◽

Stratum Corneum ◽

Water Loss ◽

Nervous Activity ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Sympathetic Nervous Activity ◽

Healthy Men ◽

Stratum Corneum Hydration ◽

Sympathetic Nervous

Abstract. Ferulic acid (FA) is a phytochemical compound with various physiologic functions. To clarify the effect of FA intake on skin barrier function (SBF), we conducted a placebo-controlled double-blind pilot trial. Sixteen healthy subjects were divided into 2 groups (n = 8) and ingested capsules containing either FA (200 mg) or placebo daily for 2 weeks. Two measures of SBF, transepidermal water loss and stratum corneum hydration, were assessed before and 2 weeks after the start of the study. Autonomic nervous activity, which is suggested to be related to SBF, was also measured. Compared with the values obtained before the start of the study, FA intake significantly reduced transepidermal water loss (from 6.1 ± 1.1 to 4.8 ± 1.0 g/m2/h, p = 0.005) and increased stratum corneum hydration (from 30.1 ± 7.6 to 32.3 ± 8.1 a.u., p = 0.027) after 2 weeks. In addition, the amount change in sympathetic nervous activity was significantly reduced after ingesting the FA capsules compared with the placebo capsules (−0.7 ± 1.6 vs. 1.1 ± 1.4, p = 0.035). These findings suggest that FA supplementation decreases sympathetic nervous activity and strengthens SBF in healthy men.

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