title: L-Ergothioneine scavenges superoxide and singlet oxygen and suppresses TNF-alpha and MMP-1 expression in UV-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts.
abstract: Ergothioneine (EGT) is a sulfur-containing amino acid, and is presumed to function as a natural antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to identify the nature of the antioxidant activity and investigate the effects of EGT on UV-induced cellular response. In chemical studies, EGT scavenged the superoxide anion radical (*O(2)(-)) and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)). In cultured fibroblasts, EGT suppressed TNF-alpha up-regulation by UVB irradiation. In addition, in fibroblasts exposed to UV-A, EGT suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) protein by nearly 50% and reduced MMP-1 mRNA expression. From these results, we conclude that EGT scavenges reactive oxygen species generated by both Type I and Type II photosensitization and suppresses both TNF-alpha expression and MMP-1 at their transcriptional level. EGT may reduce skin anti-aging effects after UV irradiation by the scavenging of *O(2)(-) and (1)O(2), and reducing signals for protease and inflammatory activity.
authors.affiliation: Cosmos Technical Center Co. Ltd., 3-24-3, Hasune, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 174-0046, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Obayashi
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masaki
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Yarosh
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004880:Ergothioneine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013481:Superoxides; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D004880:Ergothioneine; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1