Various methods of suberin extraction have been used in order to identify monomers of this complex polymer. Pre-extraction of waxes has allowed us to identify for the first time 3-friedelanol as a terpen from cork. Moreover, the wax chemical composition found here varied from previous results since cerin was not identified while friedelin and betulin were. Three fractions were obtained: a polymeric, a monomeric and a low molecular weight fraction, the last of which has never before been described. 2,6-heptanediol was found to be the main compound of this fraction. Furthermore, depolymerisation at room temperature gives the same yields as those obtained at reflux, defining an easier and cheaper methodology.
Recent discoveries regarding the skin microbiome help to develop a stronger common understanding of skin physiology. On the skin surface, when homeostasis and symbiotic relationships are well maintained and facilitated, the skin barrier is reinforced, immunity is effective with a low inflammation state, and pathobionts are suppressed. Skin health has also been related to probiotic status inside the body and on the skin, and gut flora. When this balance is absent, one of the most common human chronic skin disorders that can arise is Acne vulgaris, which is highly prevalent among adolescents. Acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous follicle, with a complex multifactorial origin. The main pathogenic factors associated with acne development are follicular hyperkeratinization, increased sebum excretion, alteration of the sebum composition, Propionibacterium acnes colonization, inflammation burst, stress response and involvement of neuropeptidergic pathways, and dysregulation of the hormonal microenvironment. Acne involves both epidermal keratinocytes and sebocytes of the sebaceous gland and is characterized by comedones, papules, pustules, and nodules that can leave not only physical scars, but also potentially psychological ones. Our approach to this problem was toy study acne by using multi-angle approaches. This was accomplished firstly in silico with bioinformatics, a powerful tool, to generate complex networks of the interactions between the genes involved in acne. Then, in vitro testing was conducted with human tissue models based on engineered 3D epithelial models (RHE and RHPE), facilitating several different types of experiments (heat-inactivated P. acnes, cytokine cocktail application, induced pigmentation, squalene peroxide application). In combination, this represents a powerful complementary approach that will foster further study in vitro of the effects of the application of anti-acne oriented ingredients, biofunctionals or other chemicals on skin equivalents.
Filaggrin (FLG) loss-of-function mutations and the T helper 2 (Th2) dominated cytokine milieu are assumed to cause an impaired skin barrier function in atopic dermatitis (AD), but this presumed mechanism is still largely hypothetical. Previous studies have used in vitro skin equivalents to provide experimental evidence for the role of FLG deficiency but different experimental setups and incomplete knockdown approaches make these data difficult to compare and interpret. Using 3D epidermal equivalents, we here addressed the question if FLG deficiency alters skin barrier function. We excluded interplay of FLG mutations with other AD-typical concomitant factors like inflammation or altered microbiome. We therefore used keratinocytes of ichthyosis vulgaris patients that innately carry homozygous FLG null mutations. This approach uses genetically defined cells without detectable filaggrin protein and avoids potential off-target effects of knockdown approaches. FLG did not alter constitutive or Th2-cytokine dependent expression of differentiation-associated proteins. We observed a decrease of tight junction protein expression, which, however, did not lead to alteration of the outside-in nor did it affect inside-out stratum corneum barrier as measured by permeability for low molecular weight tracers (Lucifer Yellow or biotin-SH). Although these findings do not completely rule out alterations in epidermal permeability for molecules with other biophysical properties, our study contradicts previous work that suggests an increased permeability for low molecular weight polar solutes in FLG deficient epidermis.
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