• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2005

The epidermis is a physiological barrier to protect organisms against environment. During the aging process, skin tissues undergo various changes including morphological and functional changes. The transcriptional regulation of genes is part of cellular reaction of aging process. In order to examine the changes of gene expression during the aging process, we used the primary cell culture system of human keratinocytes. Since UV radiation is the most important environmental skin aggressor, causing skin cancer and other problems including premature skin aging, we examined the changes of gene expression in human keratinocytes after UV irradiation using oligonucleotide microarray containing over 10,000 genes. We also compared the gene expression patterns of the senescent and UV treated cells. Expression of the variety of genes related to transcription factors, cell cycle regulation, immune response was altered in human keratinocytes. Some of down-regulated genes are represented in both senescent and UV treated cells. The results may provide a new view of gene expression following UVB exposure and aging process in human keratinocytes.

• Bulletin of Food Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.26-38
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• 1999

조리가공 중 생성되는 주요 발암성 이환방향족아민(heterocyclic aromatic amine)인 Trp-P-1 및 Trp-P-2가 human 및 rat keratinocytes에 대해 나타내는 세포 독성을 colony expansion법의 의해 조사, 비교하였다. 특히 Trp-P-2는 human keratinocytes에 대해서는 독성을 나타내지 않은데 반해 rat keratinocytes(계대수 2-5)에 대해서는 독성을 나타내는 선택성을 나타내었다. 이러한 Trp-P-2의 종(species)간 독성감수성 차이가 대사 효소계 활성이나 mutagenic activation상의 차이에 기인되는지를 살펴본 결과, CYP4501As 및 독성감수성 차이가 크게 나타났던 human 및 rat keratinocytes의 microsome에서 거의 같았다. 이와 같은 결과는 CYP4501A1 및 CYP1B1의 mRNA의 발현정도를 northernblot에 의해 살펴보았던 결과에서도 일치하였다. 반면 Trp-P-2의 대사활성화 및 해독화에 관여하는 효소인 N.O-acetyltransferase(NAT)활성은 rat keratinocytes보다 human keratinocytes에서 높았다. 일반적으로 독성물질의 해독화에 관여하는 glutathione S-transferase(GST) 또한 rat keratinocytes보다 human keratinocytes에서 높게 나타났다. Trp-P-2가 mutagenic metabolite로 활성화되는 정도를 salmonella microsome microsuspension assay로 살펴본 결과, 독성 감수성 차이가 크게 나타났던 human 및 rat keratinocytes간의 활성은 비슷한 것으로 나타났다. DNA 및 단백질 adduct형성능의 경우, human 및 rat keratinocytes간 DNA adduct형성능에는 차이가 없었고, 단백질 adduct형성능의 경우만 Trp-P-2에 대한 독성감수성 정도가 컸던 rat keratinocytes가 다른 세포들에 비해 크게 나타났다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 볼 때, CYP1A- 또는 CYP1B1-관련 마이크로솜 효소활성이나 mutagenic activation은 human 및 rat keratinocytes간에 나타났던 독성 감수성의 차이를 설명할 수 없으며, 해독화에 관여하는 효소활성이 종간 관찰되었던 독성 감수성의 차이에 더 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 보인다.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.500-502
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• 2002

In vitro and in vivo studies have reported the induction of matrix metaloproteinase (MMP)-1 in the fibroblasts by ultraviolet (UV) A irradiation. We constructed the skin equivalent model using HaCaT cells as keratinocytes and human neonatal dennal fibroblasts as fibroblasts in the present study. The induction of MMP-l in the fibroblasts was confirmed immunohistochemically 6 hours after UVA irradiation using this model. This model was simply composed of human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. To our knowledge, there have been a few papers concerning the skin equivalent model in the field of photobiology. The effect of UVA exposure to fibroblasts through keratinocytes was examined using this model. The cross-talk can be examined between keratinocytes and fibroblasts. This model can be a useful tool in the field of photobiology.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2011

Background: In this study, we have investigated the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extracts on the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 in human keratinocytes. Also, to examine the antioxidative effect of red ginseng extracts, free radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in human dermal fibroblasts was measured. Methods: To investigate the effect of KRG in atopic dermatitis, we measured the level of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 secretion in LPS-stimulated human keratinocytes after the treatment of KRG extracts using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-oxidative activity was investigated by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and SOD activity. Results: The stimulation of human keratinocytes with KRG extracts shifted the LPS-induced cytokine secretion toward a more immunosuppressive response. KRG dose-dependently decreased TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 production in HaCaT cells and a significant inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ was shown when cells were treated with 500 and $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of KRG extracts. Additionally, KRG extracts showed DPPH radical scavenging and SOD activity in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, SOD activities of concentrations higher than $60{\mu}g/ml$ of KRG extracts were significantly different in human dermal fibroblast cells. Conclusion: Based on this study, KRG extracts may be a useful immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.231-239
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• 1999

In oral and maxillofacial surgery, there are many cases requiring the graft of epidermal tissues such as maxillectomy, and vestibuloplasty. There have been so many challenges for the culture of the epidermal tissue. Observing the ultrastructure of the cultured human oral kertinocytes, we could compare this findings with that of in vivo ones. With that, we could find the differencies and similarities between cultured cells and in vivo ones, and evaluate the clinical applications of cultured tissue. Human gingiva was obtained and the specimen was explanted on 24-well plate. Two types of culture media were used in this culture system. One was for the growth of the keratinocytes (Media I), and the other was for the stratification (Media II). Media I had special ingredients for the epidermal growth. Those were 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 30ng/ml of epidermal growth factor (EGF), 30ng/ml of cholera toxin, and $5{\mu}g/ml$ of transferrin. We cultured the oral keratinocytes for 3 weeks, and at that time the cultured keratinocytes were processed to prepare the specimen for the TEM study. The results were as follows.; 1. In the phase contrast micrograph, epidermal outgrowth firstly appeared on the 3rd day after explantation, and the growing keratinocytes were activley mitotic, and had polygonal shape and increased N/C ratio. 2. In the phase contrast micrograph, the outer most cells exhibited areas where broad cytoplasmic processes extended out onto the culture subtratum(fan-like appaearance). 3. In the TEM micrographs, the cultured keratinocytes showed stratification. The cells were in elongated form, and there were no morphologic differencies among the layers usually found in the in vivo gingiva. 4. Most of cellular organelles underwent lysis, and keratohyaline granules were seen. Tonofibrils were dispersed in the cytoplasm. 5. The cells were interconnected by desmosomes, and their frequency of distribution was considered to be lower than that of in vivo keratinocytes. 6. We could conclude the cultured oral keratinocytes exhibited signs of terminal differentiation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.456-463
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• 2021

Background: Keratinocytes form a physical barrier and act as an innate immune cell in skin. Keratinocytes secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, resulting from inflammasome activation when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Korean Red Ginseng extracts (RGE) have been well-studied as modulators of inflammasome activation in immune cells, such as macrophages. In the study, we elucidated the role of RGE on the UV-mediated inflammasome activation in keratinocytes compared with that in macrophages. Methods: Human skin keratinocyte cells (HaCaT), human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK), human monocyte-like cells (THP-1), and mouse macrophages were treated with RGE or a saponin fraction (SF) or non-saponin fraction (NS) of RGE before and after UV irradiation. The secretion levels of IL-1β, as an indicator of inflammasome activation, were analyzed. Results: The treatment of RGE or SF in macrophages after UV irradiation inhibited IL-1β secretion, but similar treatment in HaCaT cells did not. However, the treatment of RGE or SF in HaCaT cells in the presence of poly I:C, a toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 ligand, before UV exposure elicited the inhibition of the IL-1β secretion. The inhibition was caused by the disruption by RGE or SF of the TLR mediating up-regulation of the pro-IL-1β and NLRP3 genes during the priming step. Conclusion: RGE and its saponins inhibit IL-1β secretion in response to UV exposure in both keratinocytes and macrophages. In particular, RGE treatment interrupted only the priming step in keratinocytes, although it did attenuate both the priming and activation steps in macrophages.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.85-96
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• 2003

Normal human skin, constantly challenged by environmental micro-organisms, has an innate ability to fight invading microbes through antimicrobial peptides. These peptides, described in both plant and animal kingdoms are able to inactivate a broad spectrum of micro-organisms. Mammalian defensins constitute one of the most common antimicrobial peptide family. Among the three human beta-defensins hBD1, hBD2 and hBD3 produced in epithelia, only hBD2 and hBD3 are inducible and additionally have been described as expressed by differentiated keratinocytes at site of inflammation and infection. The aims of these studies were to define a cell culture model in which the basal production of hBD could be detected and up-regulated in order to enhance skin auto-protection against micro-organisms. A specific Polymerase Chain Reaction method have been developed for hBD2 and hBD3 mRNA detection in non-differentiated monolayer keratinocytes cell culture. We have been able to demonstrate that in vitro, hBD2 and hBD3 expression in normal human keratinocytes could be detected and enhanced by TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, in hypercalcic culture conditions. This research opened the possibility of the development of cosmetic active compounds, able to induce the expression of skin natural antibiotic peptides responsible about microflora ecology of the skin.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2018

N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) and N-nitroso-N-ethylurea (NEU), direct alkylating chemical mutagens and carcinogens, are shown to be the upregulators of cellular $NF-{\kappa}B$, regulating various genes that mediate tumorigenesis and carcinogenesis. Nitric oxide (NO), a toxic reactive radical gas, has been known to induce programmed cell death or apoptosis in various cells. Therefore, the assessment of NO production was examined to elucidate the possible contribution of NO release to the chemical carcinogenic potency of NMU and NEU in human skin cells. NMU and NEU did not alter the NO production, but they caused a significant downregulation of the NO generation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production at concentrations ranging from $2{\sim}5{\mu}M$. The degree of downregulation of NO by NMU and NEU decreased up to 15% and 20%, respectively, compared to the control. These results demonstrate that the LPS-inducible keratinocytes NO synthase is involved in modulating carcinogenic potency by NMU and NEU, and the regulation of the cellular $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity by NMU and NEU is negatively correlated with the level of LPS-induced NO production in human skin cells. The findings of this study suggest the hypothesis that NMU and NEU-induced carcinogenesis may be associated with the downregulation of NO production, and the inducible NO may play an important role in NMU and NEU-induced carcinogenicity in human epidermal keratinocytes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2015

Most skin damage caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is owing to the generation of reactive oxygen species. Phytochemicals can act as antioxidants against UVB-induced oxidative stress. This study investigated the protective effects of the flavone galangin against UVB-induced oxidative damage in human keratinocytes. Galangin efficiently scavenged free radicals and reduced UVB-induced damage to cellular macromolecules, such as DNA, lipids, and proteins. Furthermore, galangin rescued cells undergoing apoptosis induced by UVB radiation via recovering mitochondrial polarization and down-regulating apoptotic proteins. These results showed that galangin protects human keratinocytes against UVB radiation-induced cellular damage and apoptosis via its antioxidant effects.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.196-200
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• 2019

Effect of retinoids, i.e., all-trans retinoic acid and 13-cis retinoic acid, on the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was evaluated in human malignant keratinocytes to examine the possible correlation of retinoids with NOS activities. All-trans retinoic acid and 13-cis retinoic acid did not alter the nitric oxide (NO) production. However, in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, $1{\mu}g/mL$), they significantly increased NO release in a dose-dependent manner until 48 h at concentrations of $50{\sim}100{\mu}M$. The degree of upregulation of NO by all-trans retinoic acid and 13-cis retinoic acid increased up to 35% and 37%, respectively, compared to that by the control, which demonstrated the upregulation of LPS-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-dependent generation of NO as well as showing a crucial link between retinoids-induced activity and NOS. Findings of this study now suggest that the upregulation of LPS-iNOS activity may be associated with modulation of retinoids-induced control of cellular developmental processes, which may produce new therapeutics of retinoids in the complexity of how NO affects human keratinocytes.