Assessing the Potential Value and Mechanism of Kaji-Ichigoside F1 on Arsenite-Induced Skin Cell Senescence

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic is a major environmental public health issue worldwide affecting more than 220 million of people. Previous studies have shown the correlation between arsenic poisoning and cellular senescence; however, knowledge regarding the mechanism and effective prevention measures has not been fully studied. First, the associations among the ERK/CEBPB signaling pathway, oxidative stress, and arsenic-induced skin cell senescence were confirmed using the HaCaT cell model. In the arsenic-exposed group, the relative mRNA and protein expressions of ERK/CEBPB signaling pathway indicators (ERK1, ERK2, and CEBPB), cell cycle-related genes (p21, p16INK4a), and the secretion of SASP (IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β1, MMP-1, MMP-3, EGF, and VEGF) and the lipid peroxidation product (MDA) were significantly increased in cells ( P < 0.05 ), while the activity of antioxidant enzyme (SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT) was significantly decreased ( P < 0.05 ), and an increased number of cells accumulated in the G1 phase ( P < 0.05 ). Further Kaji-ichigoside F1 intervention experiments showed that compared to that in the arsenic-exposed group, the expression level of the activity of antioxidant enzyme was significantly increased in the Kaji-ichigoside F1 intervention group ( P < 0.05 ), but the indicators of ERK/CEBPB signaling pathway, cell cycle-related genes, and SASP were significantly decreased ( P < 0.05 ), and the cell cycle arrest relieved to a certain extent ( P < 0.05 ). Our study provides some limited evidence that the ERK/CEBPB signaling pathway is involved in low-dose arsenic-induced skin cell senescence, through regulating oxidative stress. The second major finding was that Kaji-ichigoside F1 can downregulate the ERK/CEBPB signaling pathway and regulate the balance between oxidation and antioxidation, alleviating arsenic-induced skin cell senescence. This study provides experimental evidence for further understanding of Kaji-ichigoside F1, a natural medicinal plant that may be more effective in preventing and controlling arsenic poisoning.

Challenges and Opportunities for the Translation of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Technologies to Dermatology

Skin is a complex and heterogeneous organ at the cellular level. This complexity is beginning to be understood through the application of single-cell genomics and computational tools. A large number of datasets that shed light on how the different human skin cell types interact in homeostasis—and what ceases to work in diverse dermatological diseases—have been generated and are publicly available. However, translation of these novel aspects to the clinic is lacking. This review aims to summarize the state-of-the-art of skin biology using single-cell technologies, with a special focus on skin pathologies and the translation of mechanistic findings to the clinic. The main implications of this review are to summarize the benefits and limitations of single-cell analysis and thus help translate the emerging insights from these novel techniques to the bedside.

Management of severe burn injuries with novel treatment techniques including maggot debridement and applications of acellular fish skin grafts and autologous skin cell suspension in a dog

CASE DESCRIPTION A 3-year-old 27-kg female spayed American Bulldog with severe burn injuries caused by a gasoline can explosion was evaluated. CLINICAL FINDINGS The dog had extensive partial- and full-thickness burns with 50% of total body surface area affected. The burns involved the dorsum extending from the tail to approximately the 10th thoracic vertebra, left pelvic limb (involving 360° burns from the hip region to the tarsus), inguinal area bilaterally, right medial aspect of the thigh, and entire perineal region. Additional burns affected the margins of the pinnae and periocular regions, with severe corneal involvement bilaterally. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME The dog was hospitalized in the hospital’s intensive care unit for 78 days. Case management involved provision of aggressive multimodal analgesia, systemic support, and a combination of novel debridement and reconstructive techniques. Debridement was facilitated by traditional surgical techniques in combination with maggot treatment. Reconstructive surgeries involved 6 staged procedures along with the use of novel treatments including applications of widespread acellular fish (cod) skin graft and autologous skin cell suspension. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The outcome for the dog of the present report highlighted the successful use of maggot treatment and applications of acellular cod skin and autologous skin cell suspension along with aggressive systemic management and long-term multimodal analgesia with debridement and wound reconstruction for management of severe burn injuries encompassing 50% of an animal’s total body surface area.

Optimisation of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) press residue extraction using a combination of pectolytic enzyme and ultrasound treatments

Blueberries are one of the most popular and widely consumed berries, they are usually consumed fresh, dried or processed into juice. During the production of juices large quantities of berry press residues are generated, which are an industrial by-product and they accumulate as food waste. Optimal management of this industrial fruit by-product could help in utilising berry press residues with the purpose to valorise and add economic value. Blueberry press residues consist of skins and seeds which hold valuable compounds with antioxidant activity –polyphenolics. To facilitate the objective of bioactive compound release, the cell walls must rupture. Pectolytic enzymes could be used to degrade the structural polysaccharides of the berry skin cell wall, thus releasing the contents of the cells into the extraction medium. The physical characteristics of berry skins allows the use of pectolytic enzymes for the disruption of cells; however, the effects of enzymatic hydrolysis could be further improved using ultrasound. In this study the combined effects of enzyme and ultrasonic treatments were evaluated and optimised using the Response Surface Methodology approach in order to increase the release of polyphenolic compounds (especially anthocyanins). The optimised method was further tested to evaluate the application potential of enzyme and ultrasound treatment to prepare blueberry or lingonberry juice with increased antioxidant activity and more vibrant colour. The obtained results provide an optional method of berry press residue valorisation to produce higher quality juice or extract bioactive compounds from this type of food-waste.

Autologous skin cell suspension application for toxic epidermal necrolysis: a case report

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a drug-mediated disease process which mimics a partial thickness thermal injury. It has long been treated with frequent wound dressing changes and supportive care. There has been minimal efficacious system therapy. The pathophysiology is poorly understood but causes necrosis of keratinocytes at the dermal-epidermal junction leading to sloughing of the epidermis. The disease is rare with high mortality rates associated with long hospital stays. This case report describes the application of autologous skin cell suspension to a patient with toxic epidermal necrolysis after antihypertensive and hyperglycemic therapy. This was associated with minimal wound care and efficacious arrest of patient disease process and timely closure of wound.

An NIR-Triggered Au Nanocage Used for Photo-Thermo Therapy of Chronic Wound in Diabetic Rats Through Bacterial Membrane Destruction and Skin Cell Mitochondrial Protection

Bacterial infection and its severe oxidative stress reaction will cause damage to skin cell mitochondria, resulting in long-lasting wound healing and great pain to patients. Thus, delayed wound healing in diabetic patients with Staphylococcus aureus infection is a principal challenge worldwide. Therefore, novel biomaterials with multifunction of bacterial membrane destruction and skin cell mitochondrial protection are urgently needed to be developed to address this challenge. In this work, novel gold cage (AuNCs) modified with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were prepared to treat delayed diabetic wounds. The results showed that Au-EGCG had a high and stable photothermal conversion efficiency under near-infrared irradiation, and the scavenging rate of Au-EGCG for S. aureus could reach 95%. The production of large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to the disruption of bacterial membranes, inducing bacterial lysis and apoptosis. Meanwhile, Au-EGCG fused into hydrogel (Au-EGCG@H) promoted the migration and proliferation of human umbilical cord endothelial cells, reduced cellular mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress in the presence of infection, and significantly increased the basic fibroblast growth factor expression and vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition, animal studies showed that wound closure was 97.2% after 12 days of treatment, and the healing of chronic diabetic wounds was significantly accelerated. Au-EGCG nanoplatforms were successfully prepared to promote cell migration and angiogenesis in diabetic rats while removing S. aureus, reducing oxidative stress in cells, and restoring impaired mitochondrial function. Au-EGCG provides an effective, biocompatible, and multifunctional therapeutic strategy for chronic diabetic wounds.