title: Ectoine from halophilic microorganisms induces the expression of hsp70 and hsp70B' in human keratinocytes modulating the proinflammatory response.
abstract: The heat shock proteins (Hsps) have an important role in the cytoprotection and repair of cells and tissues. One potential mechanism of protection is the ability of Hsp to inhibit genetic expression of proinflammatory cytokines, the transcription of which is dependent on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation. In this study, we evaluated the ability of ectoine, a novel natural biomolecule produced by halophilic microorganisms, to activate the hsp70 and hsp70B'. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, we demonstrated increased hsp70B' gene expression in human keratinocytes treated with ectoine and heat stressed. In contrast, in the absence of heat shock, ectoine was unable to induce hsp70B' but had the ability to induce another member of the Hsp family, the hsp70. The latter is not only elevated in response to stress but is also present at basal level in unstressed cells. In addition, ectoine had no effect on proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and on NF-kappaB and IkappaB-alpha pathway, whereas it downregulated the expression of cited proinflammatory cytokines, in lipopolysaccharides-treated keratinocytes. These results highlighted the ability of ectoine to protect cells from stress conditions and to prevent cell damage by maintaining an elevated level of the Hsp70. Overall, these data might suggest the use of this compatible solute in cosmetic and even pharmaceutical preparations aiming to activate a cytoprotective heat shock response in human cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology Section, Second University of Naples, Napoli 80138, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buommino
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiraldi
authors.forename: Adone
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.forename: Iole
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tufano
mesh_terms: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D016207:Cytokines; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; C491129:HSPA7 protein, human; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; D020011:Protective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; C045628:ectoine