title: Kojic acid, a potential inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation in transfectant human HaCaT and SCC-13 cells.
abstract: The activation of NF-kappaB induced by kojic acid, an inhibitor of tyrosinase for biosynthesis of melanin in melanocytes, was investigated in human transfectant HaCaT and SCC-13 cells. These two keratinocyte cell lines transfected with pNF-kappaB-SEAP-NPT plasmid were used to determine the activation of NF-kappaB. Transfectant cells release the secretory alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) as a transcription reporter in response to the NF-kappaB activity and contain the neomycin phosphotransferase (NPT) gene for the dominant selective marker of geneticin resistance. NF-kappaB activation was measured in the SEAP reporter gene assay using a fluorescence detection method. Kojic acid showed the inhibition of cellular NF-kappaB activity in both human keratinocyte transfectants. It could also downregulate the ultraviolet ray (UVR)-induced activation of NF-kappaB expression in transfectant HaCaT cells. Moreover, the inhibitory activity of kojic acid in transfectant HaCaT cells was found to be more potent than known antioxidants, e.g., vitamin C and N-acetyl-L-cysteine. These results indicate that kojic acid is a potential inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation in human keratinocytes, and suggest the hypothesis that NF-kappaB activation may be involved in kojic acid induced anti-melanogenic effect.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, Korea.
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011753:Pyrones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014162:Transfection; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008543:Melanins; D009183:Mycotoxins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011753:Pyrones; C011890:kojic acid; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000111:Acetylcysteine