Downregulation of NF-kappaB activation in human keratinocytes by melanogenic inhibitors.
BACKGROUND
Exposure of skin cells, particularly keratinocytes to various nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activators (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, lipopolysaccharides, and ultraviolet light) leads to phosphorylation and degradation of the inhibitory protein, IkappaB. Liberated NF-kappaB is translocated into the nucleus where it can change or alter expression of target genes, resulting in the secretion of extracellular signaling molecules including melanotrophic factors affecting melanocyte.


OBJECTIVE
In order to demonstrate the possible role of NF-kappaB activation on the synthesis of melanotrophic factors from the keratinocytes, the activities of NF-kappaB induced by melanogenic inhibitors (MIs) were determined in human HaCaT keratinocytes transfected with pNF-kappaB-SEAP-NPT plasmid. Transfectant cells released 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 selection marker for geneticin resistance.


METHODS
MIs such as niacinamide, kojic acid, hydroquinone, resorcinol, arbutin, and glycolic acid were preincubated with transfectant HaCaT cells for 3 h and then ultraviolet B (UVB) was irradiated. NF-kappaB activation was measured with the SEAP reporter gene assay using a fluorescence detection method.


RESULTS
Of the MIs tested, kojic acid (IC(50)=60 microM) was found to be the most potent inhibitor of UVB-upregulating NF-kappaB activation in transfectant HaCaT cells, which is followed by niacinamide (IC(50)=540 microM). Pretreatment of the transfectant HaCaT cells with the MIs, especially kojic acid and niacinamide, effectively lowered NF-kappaB binding measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Furthermore, these two inhibitors remarkably reduced the secretion level of IL-6, one of melanotrophic factors, triggered by UV-radiation of the HaCaT cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest that MIs working at the in vivo level might act partially through the modulation of the synthesis of melanotrophic factors in keratinocyte.
Ahn
Kwang Seok
KS
Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, 28 Yeonkun-Dong, Jongno-Ku, Seoul 110-460, South Korea.
Moon
Ki-Young
KY
Lee
Jinseon
J
Kim
Yeong Shik
YS
D001104:Arbutin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D006016:Glycolates / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D011753:Pyrones / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D006016:Glycolates; D006873:Hydroquinones; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011753:Pyrones; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012118:Resorcinols; C031149:glycolic acid; D009536:Niacinamide; C011890:kojic acid; D001104:Arbutin; C031927:hydroquinone; C031389:resorcinol