-
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Sep 2019Engineering bioscaffolds for improved cutaneous tissue regeneration remains a healthcare challenge because of the increasing number of patients suffering from acute and...
Engineering bioscaffolds for improved cutaneous tissue regeneration remains a healthcare challenge because of the increasing number of patients suffering from acute and chronic wounds. To help address this problem, we propose to utilize alfalfa, an ancient medicinal plant that contains antibacterial/oxygenating chlorophylls and bioactive phytoestrogens, as a building block for regenerative wound dressings. Alfalfa carries genistein, which is a major phytoestrogen known to accelerate skin repair. The scaffolds presented herein were built from composite alfalfa and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers with hydrophilic surface and mechanical stiffness that recapitulate the physiological microenvironments of skin. This composite scaffold was engineered to have aligned nanofibrous architecture to accelerate directional cell migration. As a result, alfalfa-based composite nanofibers were found to enhance the cellular proliferation of dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes in vitro. Finally, these nanofibers exhibited reproducible regenerative functionality by promoting re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation in both mouse and human skin, without requiring additional proteins, growth factors, or cells. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of alfalfa-based nanofibers as a regenerative platform toward accelerating cutaneous tissue repair.
Topics: Cell Line; Dermis; Humans; Keratinocytes; Medicago sativa; Nanocomposites; Nanofibers; Polyesters; Wound Healing
PubMed: 31369233
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b07626 -
Journal of Tissue Engineering and... Aug 2017The realization of biologically relevant human tissue equivalents as an in vitro model to investigate human diseases, as well as to test the efficacy or toxicity of...
The realization of biologically relevant human tissue equivalents as an in vitro model to investigate human diseases, as well as to test the efficacy or toxicity of novel compounds, is emerging as a new challenge in tissue engineering. Currently, the in vitro three-dimensional (3D) dermis model mainly involves the use of cells embedded in exogenous non-human matrices. However, such models feature biological and functional disparities with native dermis, therefore limiting their relevance to the in vivo situation. The purpose of this study was to provide a reliable endogenous human dermal equivalent (HDE) able to recapitulate the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling of the native dermis occurring after external damage. To this end, UVA irradiation was used to induce photodamage to both the HDE and to a fibroblast-populated collagen matrix. The photodamage was investigated at the cellular and ECM level and the results showed that, although a cellular response was detected in both systems, no ECM reorganization characteristic of the in vivo photo-aged dermis could be detected in the fibroblast-populated collagen matrix. In contrast in the HDE, the neosynthesized ECM recapitulated the characteristic ageing behaviour of the dermis found in vivo, in terms of collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis as well as collagen organization remodelling. This study therefore demonstrates the role of the endogenous ECM in recapitulating in vitro the functionality of the human dermis and the proposed HDE as a novel tool for photoprotection trials. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Topics: Dermis; Extracellular Matrix; Fibroblasts; Humans; Photosensitivity Disorders; Tissue Engineering; Ultraviolet Rays
PubMed: 26857337
DOI: 10.1002/term.2125 -
Skin Research and Technology : Official... Aug 2018The skin is a complex biological system and may suffer change according to the environmental factors, as higher temperatures can increase sebum excretion, presenting...
BACKGROUND
The skin is a complex biological system and may suffer change according to the environmental factors, as higher temperatures can increase sebum excretion, presenting oiliness and acne. These alterations can persist during the aging and provoke more changes in aged skin. In this study we evaluated the mature oily skin characteristics using biophysical and skin imaging techniques.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Sixty healthy female subjects, aged between 39 and 55 years old were recruited and separated into 2 groups according to their skin type: normal/dry and oily skin. The skin was evaluated in terms of stratum corneum water content, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) sebum content, dermis thickness and echogenicity, skin microrelief, and pores content.
RESULTS
The mature oily skin presented no significant differences when compared to the normal/dry skin on the stratum corneum water content and TEWL parameters. The sebum content was significantly higher on the oily skin group. The microrelief analysis showed an increase of skin roughness values in the oily skin and increase of scaliness in the normal/dry skin. The oily skin showed lower dermis echogenicity mainly in the frontal region and higher dermis thickness when compared to normal/dry skin.
CONCLUSION
The mature oily skin showed different characteristics from normal/dry skin in terms of sebum content, microrelief parameters, and dermis thickness. This way, the characterization of mature oily skin in an objective way is very important to development of dermocosmetic products for more effective treatments focused specially on this type of skin.
Topics: Adult; Dermis; Epidermis; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Sebaceous Glands; Sebum; Skin; Skin Aging; Ultrasonography; Water; Water Loss, Insensible
PubMed: 29441614
DOI: 10.1111/srt.12441 -
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology Apr 2020Trichoblastic carcinosarcoma is a rare biphasic adnexal neoplasm. This case report chronicals the eighth occurrence of this tumor published in the English literature and... (Review)
Review
Trichoblastic carcinosarcoma is a rare biphasic adnexal neoplasm. This case report chronicals the eighth occurrence of this tumor published in the English literature and provides a review of the prior publications. Clinically, this tumor presents as an isolated, rapidly growing lesion in elderly patients and is usually cured by complete surgical excision, with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis at follow-up (7/8 cases). Histopathologically, trichoblastic carcinosarcoma is dermal-based, with an epithelial component of basal cells and a mesenchymal component of spindle cells, both of which display malignant features. In addition to a morphologic description of trichoblastic carcinosarcoma, a discussion of the differential diagnoses, including other biphasic neoplasms, is also included. The small number of cases of trichoblastic carcinosarcoma is most likely secondary to under-recognition and underreporting and a larger case volume is needed to more accurately assess the clinical course and treatment strategies.
Topics: Aged; Carcinosarcoma; Dermis; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Male; Skin Neoplasms
PubMed: 31730287
DOI: 10.1111/cup.13614 -
The Protein Journal Dec 2018Growth factors and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are involved in wound healing. Human dermal fibroblasts secrete wound-healing mediators in culture medium known as...
Growth factors and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are involved in wound healing. Human dermal fibroblasts secrete wound-healing mediators in culture medium known as dermal fibroblast conditioned medium (DFCM). However, the composition and concentration of the secreted proteins differ with culture conditions and environmental factors. We cultured human skin fibroblasts in vitro using serum-free keratinocyte-specific media (EpiLife™ Medium [KM1] and defined keratinocyte serum-free medium [KM2]) and serum-free fibroblast-specific medium (FM) to obtain DFCM-KM1, DFCM-KM2 and DFCM-FM, respectively. We identified and compared their proteomic profiles using bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA), 1-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS) and liquid chromatography MS (LC-MS/MS). DFCM-KM1 and DFCM-KM2 had higher protein concentrations than DFCM-FM but not statistically significant. MALDI-TOF/TOF MS identified the presence of fibronectin, serotransferrin, serpin and serum albumin. LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis identified 59, 46 and 58 secreted proteins in DFCM-KM1, DFCM-KM2 and DFCM-FM, respectively. The most significant biological processes identified in gene ontology were cellular process, metabolic process, growth and biological regulation. STRING® analysis showed that most secretory proteins in the DFCMs were associated with biological processes (e.g. wound healing and ECM organisation), molecular function (e.g. ECM binding) and cellular component (e.g. extracellular space). ELISA confirmed the presence of fibronectin and collagen in the DFCMs. In conclusion, DFCM secretory proteins are involved in cell adhesion, attachment, proliferation and migration, which were demonstrated to have potential wound-healing effects by in vitro and in vivo studies.
Topics: Culture Media, Conditioned; Dermis; Fibroblasts; Humans; Proteome; Proteomics; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
PubMed: 30343346
DOI: 10.1007/s10930-018-9800-z -
Journal of Virology Feb 2022Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) invades its human host via the skin and mucosa and initiates infection in the epithelium. While human and murine epidermis are highly... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) invades its human host via the skin and mucosa and initiates infection in the epithelium. While human and murine epidermis are highly susceptible to HSV-1, we recently observed rare infected cells in the human dermis and only minor infection efficiency in murine dermis upon infection. Here, we investigated why cells in the dermis are so inefficiently infected and explored potential differences between murine and human dermal fibroblasts. In principle, primary fibroblasts are highly susceptible to HSV-1; however, we found a delayed infection onset in human compared to murine cells. Intriguingly, only a minor delayed onset of infection was evident in collagen-embedded compared to unembedded human fibroblasts, although expression of the receptor nectin-1 dropped after collagen embedding. This finding is in contrast to previous observations with murine fibroblasts where collagen embedding delayed infection. The application of latex beads revealed limited penetration in the dermis, which was more pronounced in the human than in the murine dermis, supporting the species-specific differences already observed for HSV-1 invasion. Our results suggest that the distinct organization of human and murine dermis contributes to the presence and accessibility of the HSV-1 receptors as well as to the variable barrier function of the extracellular matrix. These contributions, in turn, give rise to inefficient viral access to cells in the dermis while dermal fibroblasts in culture are well infected. Dermal fibroblasts are exposed to HSV-1 upon invasion in skin during infection. Thus, fibroblasts represent a widely used experimental tool to understand virus-host cell interactions and are highly susceptible in culture. The spectrum of fibroblasts' characteristics in their environment, however, clearly differs from the observations under cell culture conditions, implying putative variations in virus-cell interactions. This becomes evident when infection studies in murine as well as human dermis revealed the rather inefficient penetration of HSV-1 in the tissue and uptake in the dermal fibroblasts. Here, we initiated studies to explore the contributions of receptor presence and accessibility to efficient infection of dermal fibroblasts. Our results strengthen the heterogeneity of murine and human dermis and imply that the interplay between dermal barrier function and receptor presence determine how well HSV-1 penetrates the dermis.
Topics: Animals; Collagen; Dermis; Extracellular Matrix; Fibroblasts; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Humans; Mice; Nectins; Species Specificity; Virus Internalization
PubMed: 34908440
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02068-21 -
Skin Research and Technology : Official... Jul 2021Using ultrasound elastography, the present study aimed to measure the viscoelasticity in each skin layer and to determine the relationship between the measured value,...
BACKGROUND
Using ultrasound elastography, the present study aimed to measure the viscoelasticity in each skin layer and to determine the relationship between the measured value, age, and body mass index (BMI).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present study included 77 Japanese women. We calculated the BMI and measured the facial cheek via elastography. With the use of the elastographic image, the dermis was divided into two layers, and the subcutaneous fat layer was divided into five equal sections according to the depth, ultimately obtaining seven layers. Furthermore, the thickness and viscoelasticity of each divided layer were measured.
RESULTS
The analysis of echo images revealed that the thickness of the upper dermis layer decreased with age, whereas that of the subcutaneous fat layer tended to increase with age and BMI. As measured by elastography, the viscoelasticity of both the lower dermis and the upper subcutaneous fat layer decreased with age. As the BMI increased, the viscoelasticity of the lower subcutaneous layer also increased, but that of the upper subcutaneous layer decreased.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study revealed the relationship between aging and viscoelasticity in the lower dermis and the relationship between aging, BMI, and viscoelasticity in the upper subcutaneous fat layer.
Topics: Aging; Body Mass Index; Dermis; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Female; Humans; Subcutaneous Fat
PubMed: 33411945
DOI: 10.1111/srt.12994 -
Proteomics Jul 2018Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are one of the main cell populations in the heart and play important roles in tissue homeostasis and myocardial fibrosis. The study of these...
Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are one of the main cell populations in the heart and play important roles in tissue homeostasis and myocardial fibrosis. The study of these cells has been hampered by the lack of reliable membrane markers: none of the antigens currently used for characterization and isolation of CFs is unique for this cell type. This issue has also raised doubts regarding a distinct identity of cardiac fibroblasts when compared to other myocardium cell populations with similar morphologies. In this work, we report a comprehensive description and functional analysis of human CFs (hCFs) membraneenriched fraction proteome by advanced mass spectrometry-based proteomic tools. A total number of 1478 proteins were identified, including 774 membrane proteins (52%). We also report the identification of a subset of 30 membrane proteins that in this workflow were only identified in hCFs by comparison with the membrane-enriched proteome lists of human cardiac stem cells, human mesenchymal stem cells, and human dermal fibroblasts. The data reported in this work are a valuable source of information for further studies aiming at defining a membrane molecular signature of human cardiac fibroblasts (hCFs), and a step forward in research regarding membrane proteins with key roles in hCF function in homeostasis and disease.
Topics: Biomarkers; Cells, Cultured; Dermis; Fibroblasts; Humans; Mass Spectrometry; Membrane Proteins; Mesoderm; Myocardium; Proteome; Stem Cells
PubMed: 29696784
DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201700446 -
The Tokai Journal of Experimental and... Dec 2022Physicians occasionally come across with patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) bringing about distress, due to tumor growth, invasion to the skin, bleeding...
Physicians occasionally come across with patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) bringing about distress, due to tumor growth, invasion to the skin, bleeding or an ill smell. Physicians often experience much difficulty in selecting and administering therapeutic option. The clinical courses of patient who had been treated with total resection of LABC and an attachment of artificial dermis (TERUDERMIS) were mentioned. Elimination of the symptoms derived from the tumors could be successfully accomplished for all of the patients. Except for one patients who initially had bone metastasis and died 13 months after operation, the other patients have been alive under preferable condition without any signs for tumor recurrence. The surgical resection and an attachment of artificial dermis is quite reliable and helpful for both patients and physicians in palliating symptoms and reducing care for infections and hemorrhage due to LABC.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Dermis
PubMed: 36420547
DOI: No ID Found -
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 2020The dermal papilla comprises mesenchymal cells in hair follicles, which play the main role in regulating hair growth. Maintaining the potential hair inductivity of... (Review)
Review
The dermal papilla comprises mesenchymal cells in hair follicles, which play the main role in regulating hair growth. Maintaining the potential hair inductivity of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and dermal sheath cells during cell culture is the main factor in in vitro morphogenesis and regeneration of hair follicles. Using common methods for the cultivation of human dermal papilla reduces the maintenance requirements of the inductive capacity of the dermal papilla and the expression of specific dermal papilla biomarkers. Optimizing culture conditions is therefore crucial for DPCs. Moreover, exosomes appear to play a key role in regulating the hair follicle growth through a paracrine mechanism and provide a functional method for treating hair loss. The present review investigated the biology of DPCs, the molecular and cell signaling mechanisms contributing to hair follicle growth in humans, the properties of the dermal papilla, and the effective techniques in maintaining hair inductivity in DPC cultures in humans as well as hair follicle bioengineering.
Topics: Cell Culture Techniques; Dermis; Hair; Hair Follicle; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Regeneration
PubMed: 33053562
DOI: 10.1159/000510152