Punch biopsies of human skin were obtained 1 day after irradiation with two minimal-erythema doses (MED) from either a UVB light source or a Solar Simulator and incubated in organ culture for 72 h. Organ culture fluids obtained at 24, 48 and 72 h were analyzed for collagenolytic activity and for reactivity with antibodies to matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1; interstitial collagenase) and MMP-13 (collagenase-3). High levels of collagenolytic activity were seen in organ culture fluid from skin exposed to either light source. MMP-1 was strongly induced in parallel, increasing from less than 100 ng/ml in organ culture fluid from control skin to approximately 1.1 microg/ml in culture fluid from UV-treated skin. Whereas most of the detectable MMP-1 in control culture fluid was represented by the latent form of the enzyme, approximately 50% of the enzyme was present as the active form in organ culture fluid of UV-exposed skin. In contrast, there was no detectable MMP-13 in control organ culture fluid and very little change after UV exposure (less than 100 ng/ml in both cases). Finally, neutralization studies with a blocking antibody to MMP-1 removed 95 +/- 4% of the collagenolytic activity in the organ culture fluid from UV-treated skin. These findings strongly implicate MMP-1 rather than MMP-13 as the major collagenolytic enzyme responsible for collagen damage in photoaging.

An siRNA directed against the extracellular calcium‐sensing receptor (CaSR) was used to down‐regulate this protein in CBS colon carcinoma cells. In additional studies, we utilized a variant of the parental CBS line that demonstrates CaSR expression but does not upregulate this protein in response to extracellular Ca2+. In neither the siRNA‐transfected cells nor the Ca2+‐nonresponsive variant cells did inclusion of Ca2+ in the culture medium inhibit proliferation or induce morphological alterations. Extracellular Ca2+ also failed to induce E‐cadherin production or a shift in β‐catenin from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane. In mock‐transfected cells and in a Ca2+‐responsive variant line derived from the same parental CBS cells, Ca2+ treatment resulted in growth‐reduction. This was accompanied by increased E‐cadherin production and a shift in β‐catenin distribution from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane. Additionally, down‐regulation of c‐myc and cyclin D1 expression was observed in mock‐transfected cells and in the Ca2+‐responsive variant line (along with reduced T cell factor transcriptional activation). Neither c‐myc nor cyclin D1 was significantly down‐regulated in the siRNA‐transfected cells or in the Ca2+‐nonresponsive variant cells upon Ca2+ stimulation. In histological sections of human colon carcinoma CaSR was significantly reduced as compared to the level in normal colonic crypt epithelial cells. Where CaSR expression was high, strong surface staining for E‐cadherin and β‐catenin was observed. Where CaSR expression was reduced, β‐catenin surface expression was likewise reduced. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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In the present study, we demonstrate that Ca 2 þ -induced growth inhibition and induction of differentiation in a line of human colon carcinoma cells (CBS) is dependent on mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling and is associated with upregulation of extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) expression. When CBS cells were grown in Ca 2 þ -free medium and then switched to medium supplemented with 1.4 mM Ca 2 þ , proliferation was reduced and morphologic features of differentiation were expressed. E-cadherin, which was minimally expressed in nonsupplemented medium, was rapidly induced in response to Ca 2 þ stimulation. Sustained activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) occured in Ca 2 þ -supplemented medium. When an inhibitor of ERK activation (10 mM U0126) was included in the Ca 2 þ -supplemented culture medium, ERK-activation did not occur. Concomitantly, E-cadherin was not induced, cell proliferation remained high and differentiation was not observed. The same level of Ca 2 þ supplementation that induced MAP kinase activation also stimulated CaSR upregulation in CBS cells. A clonal isolate of the CBS line that did not upregulate CaSR expression in response to extracellular Ca 2 þ was isolated from the parent cells. This isolate failed to produce E-cadherin or undergo growth inhibition/induction of differentiation when exposed to Ca 2 þ in the culture medium. However, ERK-activation occurred as efficiently in this isolate as in parent CBS cells or in a cloned isolate that underwent growth reduction and differentiation in response to Ca 2 þ stimulation. Together, these data indicate that CaSR upregulation and MAP kinase signalling are both intermediates in the control of colon carcinoma cell growth and differentiation. They appear to function, at least in part, independently of one another.

Mice lacking matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3; stromelysin-1) demonstrated significantly less injury than their normal counterparts following the formation of IgG-containing immune complexes in the alveolar wall or in the wall of the peritoneum. Likewise, mice lacking MMP-3 demonstrated less lung injury following intra-tracheal instillation of the chemotactic cytokine macrophage inhibitory protein-2 (MIP-2) than did mice with MMP-3. There was a relationship between tissue injury (evidenced histologically) and accumulation of anti-laminin 111 immunoreactive material in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or peritoneal lavage (PL) fluid. There was also a relationship between tissue injury and influx of neutrophils into the BAL or PL fluid. Taken together, these data demonstrate an important role for MMP-3 in acute inflammatory tissue injury.

Punch biopsies of human skin were obtained 1 day after irradiation with two minimal-erythema doses (MED) from either a UVB light source or a Solar Simulator and incubated in organ culture for 72 h. Organ culture fluids obtained at 24, 48 and 72 h were analyzed for collagenolytic activity and for reactivity with antibodies to matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1; interstitial collagenase) and MMP-13 (collagenase-3). High levels of collagenolytic activity were seen in organ culture fluid from skin exposed to either light source. MMP-1 was strongly induced in parallel, increasing from less than 100 ng/ml in organ culture fluid from control skin to approximately 1.1 mg/ml in culture fluid from UV-treated skin. Whereas most of the detectable MMP-1 in control culture fluid was represented by the latent form of the enzyme, approximately 50% of the enzyme was present as the active form in organ culture fluid of UV-exposed skin. In contrast, there was no detectable MMP-13 in control organ culture fluid and very little change after UV exposure (less than 100 ng/ml in both cases). Finally, neutralization studies with a blocking antibody to MMP-1 removed 95 6 4% of the collagenolytic activity in the organ culture fluid from UV-treated skin. These findings strongly implicate MMP-1 rather than MMP-13 as the major collagenolytic enzyme responsible for collagen damage in photoaging.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of thiazolidinediones (TZD) on keratinocyte proliferation, motility, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production. Rosiglitazone (a potent TZD) inhibited both proliferation and motility as well as elaboration of MMP-1 and MMP-9. Inhibition was obtained with keratinocytes in monolayer culture and human skin in organ culture. There were significant concentration-response differences in sensitivity of the three keratinocyte responses to treatment with rosiglitazone. In contrast to keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts were resistant to the effects of rosiglitazone. Treatment of keratinocytes with rosiglitazone did not suppress epidermal growth factor receptor autophosphorylation, but inhibited signaling through the extracellular regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway without a concomitant effect on pathways that lead to c-jun activation. Pioglitazone, another TZD, also suppressed keratinocyte proliferation, although it was less effective than rosiglitazone. An experimental TZD (BP-1107) inhibited keratinocyte proliferation at a much lower concentration than either rosiglitazone or pioglitazone. Because enhanced keratinocyte motility and increased MMP production as well as increased keratinocyte proliferation are thought to contribute to the phenotype of psoriatic lesional skin, we propose that interference with these keratinocyte responses contributes to the previously reported antipsoriatic activity of TZD.

MDI 301 is a picolinic acid-substituted ester of 9-cis retinoic acid. It has been shown in the past that MDI 301 increases epidermal thickness, decreases matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, and increases procollagen synthesis in organ-cultured human skin. Unlike all-trans retinoic acid (RA), MDI 301 does not induce expression of proinflammatory cytokines or induce expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules in human skin. In the present study we examined topical MDI 301 treatment for ability to improve the structure and function of skin in three models of skin damage in rodents and for ability to improve abrasion wound healing in these models. MDI 301 was applied daily to the skin of rats treated with the potent corticosteroid, clobetasol propionate, to the skin of diabetic rats (8 weeks posttreatment with streptozotocin) and to the skin of aged (14-16-month-old) rats. In all three models, subsequently induced abrasion wounds healed more rapidly in the retinoid-treated animals than in vehicle-treated controls. Immediately after complete wound closure, tissue from the wound site (as well as from a control site) was put into organ culture and maintained for 3 days. At the end of the incubation period, culture fluids were assessed for soluble type I collagen and for MMPs-2 and -9. In all three models, the level of type I collagen was increased and MMP levels were decreased by MDI 301. In all three models, skin irritation during the retinoid-treatment phase was virtually nonexistent.Minor abrasions that occur in healthy skin are expected to heal without incident. Interventions are designed primarily to prevent infection and to provide support for the body's own regenerative mechanisms. In contrast, wounds in chronically damaged and atrophic skin often go on to form nonhealing ulcers with devastating consequences. Diabetes alone is a contributing factor in up to 70% of the > 55,000 amputations that occur annually. [1][2][3][4] Skin that has become atrophic as a consequence of the aging process also demonstrates impaired wound healing, 5-7 as does skin that has been damaged as a result of extended corticosteroid use. [8][9][10] The majority of wound-healing research is directed toward understanding the pathophysiology of impaired wound healing and identifying interventions that can mitigate the critical patho-physiological events.Several past studies have demonstrated the efficacy of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and its parent compound all-trans retinol (ROL, vitamin A) in wound healing. Although most studies have focused on wounds in the skin, [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] retinoid efficacy has also been demonstrated in healing of wounds in other tissues (bone, cornea, respiratory tract, upper digestive system, and gut). 27 Likewise, skin irritation is also a complication with synthetic retinoidal agents currently on the market. 28 Irritation is a major cause of non-compliance among retinoid users. In addition, excessive irritation may counteract the beneficial effects of retinoid use or actually predispo...