Immunoexpression of Adhesion Molecules During Human Fetal Hair Development

SummaryBackground: Hair follicles are produced in a cyclical manner and the machinery involved in the reproduction of these follicles is present since the fetal stage. Although extensive research has been done on the human hair follicle, very little is known about the importance of adhesion molecules in its development. Methods: We analyzed here, the immunoexpression of beta-1 integrin, p-cadherin, e- cadherin, and beta-catenin in hair follicles from 26 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded skin samples from human embryos and fetus between 12-23 weeks of gestational age. Findings: The adhesion molecules beta-1 integrin and e-cadherin/p-cadherin were expressed from 12 weeks and seemed to play a role in regulating epidermis invagination. Beta-catenin immuno stainingwas negative in all cases; down regulation of this protein may be necessary for fetal hair development and thus facilitating hair follicle down growth. Conclusion: Adhesion molecules are essential for hair follicle down growth and proliferation; integrins and cadherins play a major role in this process. More studies are needed to describe hair follicle development.

Smilax glabra Roxb. Inhibits Collagen Induced Adhesion and Migration of PC3 and LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells through the Inhibition of Beta 1 Integrin Expression

Smilax glabra Roxb. (SGR) has been used as a traditional medicine for brucellosis and syphilis. In this study, we investigated whether nontoxicological levels of water extract of SGR (WESGR) are effective for suppressing steps in the progression of prostate cancer, such as collagen-mediated migration and adhesion and identified the target molecule responsible for such effects. We found that nontoxicological levels of WESGR did not attenuate PC3 and LNCaP cell adhesion to serum but did significantly do so with collagen. In addition, using the Boyden chamber assay, we found that nontoxicological levels of WESGR did not inhibit the migration of PC3 and LNCaP cells to a serum-coated area but did significantly attenuate migration to a collagen-coated area. Interestingly, the expression of α2β1 integrin, a known receptor of collagen, was not affected by ectopic administration of WESGR. However, WESGR significantly attenuated the expression of β1 integrin, but not α2 integrin when PC3 and LNCaP cells were placed on a collagen-coated plate, resulting in attenuation of focal adherent kinase phosphorylation. Finally, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid was determined as a functional single component which is responsible for antiprostate cancer effects of WESGR. Taken together, our results suggest a novel molecular mechanism for WESGR-mediated antiprostate cancer effects at particular steps such as with migration and adhesion to collagen, and it could provide the possibility of therapeutic use of WESGR against prostate cancer progression.