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Previous studies have shown the potent anti-tumor effect of paeonol, a natural compound extracted from traditional Chinese herb medicine. However, the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanisms of paeonol in melanoma are largely unknown. Two melanoma cell lines (M14 and A375) were cultured in the presence of paeonol. Cell proliferation was determined by colony formation and cell-counting kit 8 assays. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were performed to detect mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Paeonol treatment significantly inhibited the colony formation and proliferation of melanoma cells by enhancing the expression of the well-characterized tumor suppressor microRNA (miR)-143. Block of miR-143 diminished the inhibitory effects of paeonol on cell growth. miR-143 directly bound to Wnt family member 5B (WNT5B) gene. Paeonol therefore down-regulated WNT5B expression through miR-143. Moreover, paeonol suppressed melanoma growth in vivo. Our study reveals that paeonol effectively suppresses melanoma cell growth both in vitro and in vivo through miR-143/WNT5B axis, which shows potential for the treatment of melanoma.

C‐MYC‐mediated keloid fibroblasts proliferation and collagen deposit may contribute to the development of keloids. F‐box and leucine‐rich repeat protein 6 (FBXL6) is reported to be involved in tumour progression, while the role of FBXL6 in keloid fibroblasts is not deciphered. Normal control skins, hypertrophic scars and keloid tissues were collected and prepared for FBXL6 detection. FBXL6 short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) or FBXL6 over‐expression plasmids were transfected into keloid fibroblasts, and then c‐MYC plasmids were further transfected. Cell viability was assayed with a Cell‐Counting Kit‐8 kit. The relative expression of FBXL6, Cyclin A1, Cyclin D2, Cyclin E1 and Collagen I was detected with real‐time PCR and Western blot. Elevated FBXL6 expression could be observed in keloid tissues and hypertrophic scars. FBXL6 shRNAs transfection could inhibit the viability of keloid fibroblasts with diminished c‐MYC expression and down‐regulated Cyclin A1, Cyclin D2, Cyclin E1 and Collagen I expression. At the same time, overexpressed FBXL6 could promote the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts. Overexpression of c‐MYC could promote the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts reduced by FBXL6 shRNAs with up‐regulated Cyclin A1 and Collagen I expression. FBXL6 could promote the growth of keloid fibroblasts by inducing c‐MYC expression, which could be targeted in keloids treatment.

Previous research testifies that c‐Myc may promote keloid fibroblast proliferation and collagen accumulation. Ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 37 (USP37)‐mediated deubiquitination and stabilisation of c‐Myc are vital for lung cancer proliferation, while the potential role of USP37 in keloid fibroblasts is not investigated. Elevated USP37, c‐Myc, and Collagen I content were detected in keloid tissue with RT‐PCR or ELISA assay. USP37 over‐expression plasmids or USP37 short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) were transfected into keloid fibroblasts with Lipofectamine 3000 to decipher the role of USP37 in keloid fibroblasts. USP37 overexpression could promote the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts with increased c‐Myc and Collagen I expression. On the other hand, USP37 shRNAs inhibited the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts with diminished c‐Myc and Collagen I expression. It was worth noting that C‐Myc overexpression promoted the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts inhibited by USP37 shRNAs with increasing Collagen I expression. All of these results demonstrate that USP37 could regulate c‐Myc to promote the proliferation and collagen deposit of keloid fibroblasts, and USP37 could be targeted in future keloid therapy.

An epidemiological study found that higher frequencies of carbonylated proteins (CPs) in corneocytes are closely correlated with the loss of skin hydration. On the other hand, a high frequency of CPs in reconstructed human epidermal equivalents (RHEEs) exposed to low humidity at their surface was also observed according to the generation of reactive oxygen species. Although those results elucidated the relationship between skin hydration and protein oxidation in the stratum corneum, it did not identify whether CPs are a trigger in the loss of skin hydration or are end-products of skin dryness. Thus, we conducted the following studies to identify the roles of CPs in skin hydration. In the skin, it has been demonstrated that acrolein initiates protein carbonylation in corneocytes. The transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in porcine skin and in RHEEs treated with acrolein were examined. TEWL values were higher depending on the frequency of protein carbonylation in the stratum corneum. Furthermore, the contact angles of carbonylated skin against water became lower. Those facts indicated that protein carbonylation is one of the triggers in the disruption of barrier function, and skin carbonylated with acrolein showed a hydrophilic property compared with non-treated skin. We hypothesized that the modification of functional groups (e.g. -SH, NH 2 and COOH) in proteins during carbonylation induced structural alterations of those proteins in corneocytes. COOH group levels in corneocytes increased depending on the frequency of protein carbonylation, which suggested that aldehyde groups increased by the carbonylation process are further oxidized to COOH. Summarizing these results, we propose that the change of protein characteristics from hydrophobic to hydrophilic is one possible factor involved in the disruption of protein carbonylation-induced barrier function. 323Natural antioxidant products from peanuts sprouts and citron seed oils exhibit a potent anti-inflammatory activity in the oxazolone-induced contact dermatitis model in vivo (the Republic of) Background: In our previous study, natural products of ethanol extract peanut sprouts (EPS) and citron seed oils (CSO) were found to have potent antioxidant activity in vitro cultured cells of HaCaT. Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate whether the mixture of 5% EPS and CSO (EPS/CSO) ointment had an anti-inflammatory activity through anti-oxidant action in the oxazolone (OX)-induced inflammatory model in vivo. Methods: For valuating skin inflammation in vivo, inflammation degree was measured by scoring erythema and scaling as well as histological studies (H & E and immunohistochemistry), Also, biochemical experiments on biomarkers for type 2 skin inflammation (TSLP, IL-33, and IL-25), neurogenic inflammation (NGF and CGRP) and skin barrier (filaggrin) were performed with skin extracts of OX-treated hairless mice. Results: The scores of erythema and scaling were increased in the OX-treated mice, which were markedly decreased by the application of EPS/CSO ointment for 2 we...

: In this paper, we attempt to clarify the social consequences of the changes in the Northeast Asian labor market based on the results of a questionnaire survey on changes in flexibility and security, which was carried out among workers in Japan, China, and Korea. In particular, we analyzed the reality of institutional development in employment, income, vocational training, and work-life balance in the labor market in three Northeast Asian countries by estimating the adaptation range of institutions in labor market. Furthermore, we attempted to undertaken an international comparative analysis on perceptions about work, leisure, and work-life balance under the institutions.