• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.19-24
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• 2018

Objectives : Hedgehog skin is one of the animal medicines in Traditional Korean Medicine for hematochezia and hemorrhoids. In this study, we examined cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods : Cytotoxicity of hedgehog skin extracts was measured by MTT assay in vitro. We investigated the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. The phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was measured by western blot. And we observed the effect of hedgehog skin extracts on the expression of IL-6 genes using real time PCR. Results : As a result of MTT assay for cytotoxicity, there were no significant differences between non-treatment group and hedgehog skin extracts treatment groups. $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of hedgehog skin extracts treatment significantly decreased nitric oxide production in comparison with non-treatment in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In measurement of the phosphorylation of MAPKs using western blot analysis, LPS stimulation increased the phosphorylation of MAPKs and $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of hedgehog skin extracts treatment decreased the phosphorylation of ERK1, ERK2 and p38 significantly. But there were no significant differences the phosphorylation of JNK1 and JNK2. As a result of confirmation of the IL-6 mRNA gene expression using real time PCR, IL-6 mRNA gene expressions were significantly decreased in $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ hedgehog skin extracts treated groups by comparison with non-treatment group. Conclusion : These results could provide a mechanistic explanation for the anti-inflammatory effects of the hedgehog skin.

• Journal of the Korean Medical Association
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• v.61 no.11
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• pp.655-661
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• 2018

Incidence of basal and squamous cell carcinoma is increasing among Korean. With increasing this incidence we need to attend the management and prevention of these cutaneous malignancies. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin malignancy. Sun exposure is the most important environmental cause of BCC. Daily sun protection especially avoiding sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. provides most effective prevention against chronic ultraviolet-induced skin damage. Hedgehog pathway inhibitors are used locally advanced and metastatic BCC lesions in Korea. Until recently, there are no reports whether it developed resistance of Hedgehog pathway inhibitors with advanced BCC in Korean patients. Among malignant skin tumors, 19.1% were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The incidence of SCC was rapidly increased over the past years. However, the incidence rate of SCC in Japan has not been changed from the period 1976-1980 to 1986-1990. Sentinel lymph node biopsy for SCC did not provide diagnostic value. Bowen's disease and Erythroplasia of Queyrat are considered as carcinoma in situ of the skin. Erythroplasia of Queyrat have worse prognosis with a higher rate of malignant degeneration. Dermoscopy may helpful tool in assisting the noninvasive diagnosis of carcinoma in situ of the skin.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2018

The primary cilium protrudes from the cell body like a bio-antenna that has many receptors, channels and signaling molecules to sense and response to external stimuli. The external environment such as ultraviolet irradiation, temperature, humidity, gravity and shear stress always influences skin. Skin responds to external stimuli and differentiates by making melanin, collagen and horny layer. Ciliogenesis participates in developmental processes of skin, such as keratinocyte differentiation and hair formation. And it was reported that skin pigmentation was inhibited when ciliogenesis was induced by sonic hedgehog-smoothened-GLI2 signaling. When skin is exposed to ultraviolet irradiation, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormones (${\alpha}$-MSH) increase melanin synthesis through activation of the cAMP pathway in melanocytes. We observed that ${\alpha}$-MSH and cAMP production inducers inhibited ciliogenesis of melanocytes. Therefore, we thought that regulation of ciliogenesis is potential candidate target for the development of agents to treat undesirable hyperpigmentation of skin. As a result, we found out that an ethanol extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (EGG) root and 3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamate thymol ester (TCTE, Melasolv) significantly inhibit melanin synthesis of normal human melanocyte by inducing primary cilium formation. This study proposed new theory to regulate skin pigmentation and cosmetic components for skin whitening.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.279-291
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• 2021

Hair loss is one of the most common chronic diseases, with a detrimental effect on a patient's psychosocial life. Hair loss results from damage to the hair follicle (HF) and/or hair regeneration cycle. Various damaging factors, such as hereditary, inflammation, and aging, impair hair regeneration by inhibiting the activation of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and dermal papilla cells (DPCs). Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) regulates the inflammatory response and the activity of various types of stem cells, and has recently been reported to have a protective effect on hair loss. Given that stem cell activity is the driving force for hair regeneration, we hypothesized that FPR2 influences hair regeneration by mediating HFSC activity. To prove this hypothesis, we investigated the role of FPR2 in hair regeneration using Fpr2 knockout (KO) mice. Fpr2 KO mice were found to have excessive hair loss and abnormal HF structures and skin layer construction compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The levels of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and β-catenin, which promote HF regeneration, were significantly decreased, and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp)2/4, an inhibitor of the anagen phase, was significantly increased in Fpr2 KO mice compared to WT mice. The proliferation of HFSCs and DPCs was significantly lower in Fpr2 KO mice than in WT mice. These findings demonstrate that FPR2 impacts signaling molecules that regulate HF regeneration, and is involved in the proliferation of HFSCs and DPCs, exerting a protective effect on hair loss.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.421-431
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• 2021

It has been suggested that some toothpastes have the potential to promote hair growth. However, there was no scientific verification on the hair growth effect of toothpaste and no scientific report on major active ingredients in toothpaste. In this work, toothpaste and its constituents were applied topically over the shaved skin of C57BL/6 mice and evaluated. Results indicated that toothpaste showed hair growth effect. Also, the effect of toothpaste constituents on the proliferation rate of keratinocyte cells was investigated. The mixture solution of 𝛼-tocopherol acetate, l-menthol, and stevioside, each of that was known to promote hair growth and other toothpaste constituents were applied topically on mouse skin. When the mixture solution was included, hair growth effect was observed in mice. Transcriptome analysis was performed using the dorsal epidermis of mice from the group treated with toothpaste, the mixture which are presumed to be active ingredients for hair growth, and from mice used for the control group. As a result of analyzing the genes whose expression was significantly changed in each treatment group, the gene patterns of the two groups were very similar. Also, when functional genomic analysis was performed, genes with functions related to hair growth regulation showed a high extent of the change in both groups. Hair growth-related genes whose expression was changed in both groups included keratin, keratin-related proteins, forkhead box, and sonic hedgehog. Therefore, the hair growth effect of toothpaste is thought to be due to the effect of a mixture of 𝛼-tocopherol acetate, l-menthol, and stevioside.