title: Dehydroepiandrosterone protects human keratinocytes against apoptosis through membrane binding sites.
abstract: Although the epidermis is importantly affected by steroid hormones, little is known about the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on human keratinocytes, in spite of its abundance in human serum. Here, we demonstrate for the first time a protective role of DHEA against apoptosis in keratinocytes, using non-cancerous immortalized human HaCaT cells. We show that DHEA transmits its signal via specific G protein-coupled, membrane binding sites and inhibits apoptosis, through prevention of mitochondrial disruption and altered balance of Bcl-2 proteins. DHEA conjugated to the membrane impermeable molecule BSA, as well as DHEA-S, the most abundant form of DHEA in human serum exhibit similar anti-apoptotic effect. Our data provide new insights in the treatment of the epidermis with steroid hormones in apoptosis-related conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, PO Box 2208, Heraklion GR-71003, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassilia-Ismini
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Alexaki
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Charalampopoulos
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panayotopoulou
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kampa
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gravanis
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castanas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol