title: Preventive effects of β-thujaplicin against UVB-induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 mRNA expressions in skin fibroblasts.
abstract: Solar UV radiation damages human skin by affecting skin tone and resiliency and leads to premature aging (photoaging). The skin damage is caused by the activation of the AP-1 transcription factor, which increases matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and collagen degradation. An increase of interleukin (IL)-6 is also correlated with the activation of MMP-1 expression. β-thujaplicin has shown both acaricidal and antimicrobial activities. Also, β-thujaplicin has been shown to be protective against apoptosis due to the oxidative effects of UV irradiation. However, the effect of β-thujaplicin on UVB-induced MMPs had not been investigated. In this study, after UVB exposure, MMP-1 and IL-6 production in human skin fibroblasts was examined in the presence of β-thujaplicin, vitamin C, and vitamin E. The expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1, TIMP-3) and procollagen mRNA was also investigated. Results showed that UVB-induced MMP-1 production was suppressed by the β-thujaplicin treatment in a dose-dependent manner, but not by vitamin C and vitamin E. β-thujaplicin also prevented the up-regulation of MMP-1 and MMP-3 mRNA. Moreover, the UVB-suppressed procollagen gene expression was restored to normal by β-thujaplicin. Neither UVB nor β-thujaplicin affected the mRNA expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-3. The IL-6 production induced by UVB was lower in β-thujaplicin treated fibroblasts than in the controls. In conclusion, this study shows the capability of β-thujaplicin in preventing MMP-1 production due to UVB irradiation via inhibition of MMP gene expression. Importantly, the UVB-suppressed procollagen gene expression can be restored to normal by β-thujaplicin. These findings indicate that β-thujaplicin is a promising and potent agent to inhibit UVB-induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 gene expression in skin fibroblasts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jong Yuh
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cherng
authors.forename: Li Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mei Fen
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D029780:Chamaecyparis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014334:Tropolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D014334:Tropolone; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; C009479:beta-thujaplicin