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

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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Effect of Aflatoxin B1 on Histopathology and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Testis of Rats with Special References to Gene Expression of Antioxidant Enzymes

International Journal of Pharmacology ◽

10.3923/ijp.2016.408.414 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 408-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Thnaian Althnaian ◽

Ibrahim Albokhadai ◽

Sabry M. El-Bahr

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Gene Expression ◽

Antioxidant Enzymes ◽

Aflatoxin B1 ◽

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers ◽

Stress Biomarkers ◽

And Oxidative Stress

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Ultrastructural and Molecular Analysis of Ribose-Induced Glycated Reconstructed Human Skin

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms19113521 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (11) ◽

pp. 3521 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Roberta Balansin Rigon ◽

Sabine Kaessmeyer ◽

Christopher Wolff ◽

Christian Hausmann ◽

Nan Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Human Skin ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Skin Aging ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Stratum Granulosum ◽

End Products ◽

Cell Layers ◽

Reconstructed Human Skin

Aging depicts one of the major challenges in pharmacology owing to its complexity and heterogeneity. Thereby, advanced glycated end-products modify extracellular matrix proteins, but the consequences on the skin barrier function remain heavily understudied. Herein, we utilized transmission electron microscopy for the ultrastructural analysis of ribose-induced glycated reconstructed human skin (RHS). Molecular and functional insights substantiated the ultrastructural characterization and proved the relevance of glycated RHS beyond skin aging. In particular, electron microscopy mapped the accumulation and altered spatial orientation of fibrils and filaments in the dermal compartment of glycated RHS. Moreover, the epidermal basement membrane appeared thicker in glycated than in non-glycated RHS, but electron microscopy identified longitudinal clusters of the finest collagen fibrils instead of real thickening. The stratum granulosum contained more cell layers, the morphology of keratohyalin granules decidedly differed, and the stratum corneum lipid order increased in ribose-induced glycated RHS, while the skin barrier function was almost not affected. In conclusion, dermal advanced glycated end-products markedly changed the epidermal morphology, underlining the importance of matrix–cell interactions. The phenotype of ribose-induced glycated RHS emulated aged skin in the dermis, while the two to three times increased thickness of the stratum granulosum resembled poorer cornification.

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