title: Compound K induces expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 gene in transformed human keratinocytes and increases hyaluronan in hairless mouse skin.
abstract: Ginsenosides, the major active ingredients of ginseng, have a variety of biomedical efficacies such as anti-aging, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammatory activities. To understand the effects of compound K (20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol), one of the major metabolites of ginsenosides, on the skin, we assessed the expression levels of about 100 transcripts in compound K-treated HaCaT cells using cDNA microarray analysis. One gene up-regulated by compound K was hyaluronan synthase2 (HAS2). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that compound K increased HAS2 mRNA in time- and dose-dependent manners. ELISA and immunocytochemistry using hyaluronan (HA)-binding protein showed that compound K effectively increased HA production in HaCaT cells. Finally, treatment of compound K on hairless mouse skin increased the amount of HA in the epidermis and papillary dermis. Our study suggests that topical application of compound K might prevent or improve the deteriorations, such as xerosis and wrinkles, partly ascribed to the age-dependent decrease of the HA content in human skin.
authors.affiliation: R&D Center, Amore-Pacific Corporation, 314-1 Borari, Kiheung-eup, Yongin-si, Kyounggi-do 449-729, South Korea. sundance@amorepacific.com
authors.forename: Sujong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Si Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Dae Suk
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Hui Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Myung Hun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yeom
authors.forename: Duk Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Yong Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004817:Epidermis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000076002:Hyaluronan Synthases; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D000076002:Hyaluronan Synthases; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; C112772:ginsenoside compound K; C101754:HAS2 protein, human; C491099:Has2 protein, mouse