The effects of prostaglandins E1 and F2α on epidermal growth

Summary The effects of prostaglandins E₁ and F₂ (PGE₁ and PGF_2a) on the growth of guinea pig epidermis have been studied in vivo. The prostaglandins were injected intradermally into guinea pigs, and tritiated thymidine was injected intraperitoneally prior to sacrifice. The autoradiographic labelling indices (L.I.) were assessed and a significant increase was found 4 b after injection of PGE₁-an effect which lasted for up to 72 h. PGF_2a injections had no significant effect on the L.I.

---

Zusammenfassung Der Effekt der Prostaglandine E₁ und F₂ auf das Wachstum der Epidermis von Meerschweinchen wurde in vivo untersucht. Die Prostaglandine wurden intradermal injiziert; mit Tritium markiertes Thymidin wurde intraperidonial vor dem Töten der Tiere injiziert. Die autoradiographischen Daten (labelling indices) wurden bestimmt. Ein signifikanter Anstieg wurde 4 h nach der Injektion von PGE₁ ermittelt, ein Effekt der mindestens 72 h anhielt. PGF_2a-Injektionen hatten keinen Einfluß auf den L.I.

---

---

Based on a paper read at meeting of the Investigative Group of the British Association of Dermatologists, January 1975     

Effects of cytotoxic prostaglandin, Δ12PGJ2 on protein synthesis and cytoskeleton in transformed epidermal cells in culture

Summary Cyclopentenone prostaglandins (PGs) such as ¹²-PGJ₂ and PGA are potent inducers of growth inhibition in a variety of cultured cells, including epidermal cells. These PGs are actively transported into cells by a specific carrier on cell membrane and accumulate in cell nuclei with binding to nuclear protein. To clarify the mechanism of cytotoxicity of these PGs in epidermal cells, we examined the effects of ¹²-PGJ₂ on protein synthesis and cytoskeleton in the PAM 212 transformed mouse epidermal cell line. Cycloheximide at 1 g/ml culture medium exhibited a protective effect on cell growth inhibition of PAM 212 cells by ¹²-PGJ₂. The analysis of cell lysate protein patterns by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that 12-h incubation with ¹²-PGJ₂ increased the amount of 70 kD protein in PAM 212 cells. The amount of 70 kD protein in ¹²-PGJ₂-treated cells was markedly decreased by cotreatment with cycloheximide. This 70 kD protein was also induced in PAM 212 cells with treatment at 43C for 90 min, indicating that this synthesized protein belongs to the heat shock protein. The addition of ¹²-PGJ₂ to confluent PAM 212 cells resulted in the disappearance of action filament, as visualized by fluorescent labeled phallacidine, but in contrast, keratin filament appeared to be intact during 12-h incubation with ¹²-PGJ₂ at a concentration of 5 g/ml culture medium. These results suggest that the cytotoxicity of cyclopentenone PGs is at least in part due to induction of the synthesis of some protein(s), probably one of the heat shock proteins, and the damage to the actin filament in transformed cultured epidermal cells.     

A retrospective study on laser treatment of nevus of Ota in Chinese children—a seven-year follow-up

Abstract

Objective: To retrospectively study laser treatment of nevus of Ota in children. Methods: Clinically analyzing characteristics, effects, side effects, and recurrence of a 104 cases of nevus of Ota in children under 12 years, including 32 boys and 72 girls. Results: After seven treatments, cure rate of lesion color fading and area reducing were 79.81% and 75.96%, respectively. After 10 treatments, both of the two cure rates were 96.15%. Later the cure rate was constant with even more treatments. The younger the first treating age, the lesser the treatments are. The younger the age of onset, the higher the relapse after clearance. Conclusion: Nevus of Ota should be treated as early as possible to reach better efficacy with less treatments. The younger the onset age, the easier it recurs.     

Three cases of oral mucosal tuberculosis in patients on tumour-necrosis-factor-α blockers

We present three cases of oral mucosal lesions caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor-α for psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnosis of oral mucosal tuberculosis was not easily established in any of the cases. A comparison between these cases and other previously described forms of oral mucosal tuberculosis is presented.     

Standardized diaper care regimen: a prospective, randomized pilot study on skin barrier function and epidermal IL-1α in newborns

Adaptation of skin barrier function and interleukin-1α (IL-1α) content in diapered and nondiapered skin are poorly characterized in newborns receiving standard skin care. In a monocentric, prospective pilot study 44 healthy, full-term neonates were randomly assigned to skin care with baby wipes (n = 21) or water-moistened washcloth (n = 23) at each diaper change. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, skin-pH, IL-1α, and epidermal desquamation were measured on days 2, 14, and 28 postpartum. Microbiological colonization was evaluated at baseline and on day 28. Significantly lower TEWL was found on the buttock in the group using baby wipes compared to water. IL-1α and skin hydration significantly increased and pH decreased independent of skin care regimen. IL-1α was significantly higher in diapered skin compared to nondiapered skin. Although skin care with wipes seems to stabilize TEWL better than using water, the skin condition and microbiological colonization were comparable using both cleansing procedures. Increase of epidermal IL-1α may reflect postnatal skin barrier maturation. These data suggest that neither of the two cleansing procedures harms skin barrier maturation within the first four weeks postpartum. Longer observations on larger populations could provide more insight into postnatal skin barrier maturation.     

Is topical metronidazole effective in seborrheic dermatitis? A double-blind study

BACKGROUND: Seborrheic dermatitis is a common, chronic, papulosquamous dermatosis. Although several types of treatment have been developed, repetitive treatment courses are often necessary. AIM: To perform a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study with metronidazole 0.75% gel in patients with mild to moderate seborrheic dermatitis of the face. METHODS: Eighty-four patients (52 males and 32 females) with seborrheic dermatitis were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to the application of metronidazole 0.75% gel or placebo to their facial lesions, twice daily for 8 weeks. Patients were scored with regard to the severity of the lesions at the initial evaluation and every 2 weeks for 2 months. All patients were evaluated for a final assessment of improvement at the end of the study. RESULTS: At baseline, both treatment groups were comparable in terms of demographic data and lesion severity score. Seventy-eight patients (48 males and 30 females), 48 (62%) in the metronidazole group and 30 (38%) in the placebo group, completed the study. Two patients in the metronidazole group and four patients in the placebo group left the study. There was no statistically significant difference in the change in the mean severity score between the two groups at the end of the study (P > 0.05). At the final evaluation of the response at 8 weeks, no statistically significant difference was found between the treatment groups (P > 0.05). Metronidazole gel was generally tolerated well during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Metronidazole 0.75% gel and placebo show similar efficacy in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.     

Over-expression of tumor necrosis factor-α in vitiligo lesions after narrow-band UVB therapy: an immunohistochemical study

There is a growing evidence that cytokines are important in the depigmentation process of vitiligo, however, the exact mechanism is not fully understood. The aim of this work was to study the possible role of the tumor necrosis factor-?? (TNF-??) cytokine in the depigmentation process of the disease. Twenty patients with generalized vitiligo were exposed to narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy thrice weekly for a total of 60 sessions. Immunohistochemical examination was done, to assess the TNF-?? expression in lesional and perilesional skin as compared to normal control skin, before and after therapy. At baseline, positive lesional TNF-?? expression was detected in 60?% of patients which was significantly higher as compared to perilesional skin (20?%) and negative expression in healthy control skin. Post-treatment, a statistically significant increase in TNF-?? expression was detected in both lesional (90?%) and perilesional skin (70?%) as compared to baseline (P?<?0.05). The significant increase of TNF-?? in vitiligo lesions compared with perilesional and healthy skin suggests a possible involvement of this cytokine in the depigmentation of vitiligo. The increase in TNF-?? expression after NB-UVB phototherapy suggests another role in repigmentation.     

Modification of osteopontin and MMP-9 levels in patients with psoriasis on anti-TNF-α therapy

Psoriasis is a chronic skin inflammatory disease in which a pleiotropic cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), plays a central role, as demonstrated by the clinical success of anti-TNF-α therapy. Among the multiple effects of TNF-α on keratinocytes, the induction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a collagenase implicated in joint inflammation, might be one of the key mechanisms in psoriasis pathogenesis. Interestingly, MMP-9 expression can be enhanced also by osteopontin (OPN), a glycosylated protein whose levels are increased in skin and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of psoriasis patients. The aim of the current study is to investigate the relationship between OPN, MMP-9 and TNF-α in psoriasis. Our survey identified high levels of both OPN and MMP-9 in PBMC as well as skin of psoriatic patients with respect to healthy controls. Significant reduction of OPN and MMP-9 levels in PBMC, plasma and lesional skin of psoriasis patients was observed after 24 weeks of anti-TNF-α therapy. Moreover, OPN and MMP-9 were enhanced by TNF-α and down-regulated by anti-TNF-α treatment in healthy PBMC. These findings may suggest that OPN and MMP-9 may be regulated by TNF-α, indicating a possible role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.     

Effects of tumor necrosis factor-α on connective tissue metabolism in normal and scleroderma fibroblast cultures

Recent studies have demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor-(TNF-) selectively decreases production of collagens I and III, the major types of collagen in the dermis, and increases production of collagenase in cultured dermal fibroblasts. The effects of TNF- on collagens I, III and VI, fibronectin and collagenase gene expression by fibroblasts derived from normal individuals and patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were studied. SSc is characterized by excessive accumulation of collagen in the skin and in certain organs. TNF- inhibited collagen production and mRNA levels of collagens I and III and of fibronectin, and stimulated collagenase activity and collagenase mRNA levels in SSs fibroblasts. Levels of mRNA for 1(VI) and 3(VI) collagen and for -actin were unaltered in SSc fibroblasts incubated with TNF-. Similar results were observed for mRNA levels in normal fibroblasts incubated with TNF-. These results suggest that TNF- could be expected to be beneficial in the treatment of SSc. In addition, our results indicated that collagen-VI expression is regulated independently from expression of collagens I and III, and expression of fibronectin and collagens I and III are regulated in parallel in fibroblasts treated with TNF-.