Fibroin and Sericin from Bombyx mori Silk Stimulate Cell Migration through Upregulation and Phosphorylation of c-Jun

Abstract

Wound healing is a biological process directed to the restoration of tissue that has suffered an injury. An important phase of wound healing is the generation of a basal epithelium able to wholly replace the epidermis of the wound. A broad range of products derived from fibroin and sericin from Bombyx mori silk are used to stimulate wound healing. However, so far the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not been elucidated. The aim of this work was to determine the molecular basis underlying wound healing properties of silk proteins using a cell model. For this purpose, we assayed fibroin and sericin in a wound healing scratch assay using MDA-MB-231 and Mv1Lu cells. Both proteins stimulated cell migration. Furthermore, treatment with sericin and fibroin involved key factors of the wound healing process such as upregulation of c-Jun and c-Jun protein phosphorylation. Moreover, fibroin and sericin stimulated the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 and JNK 1/2 kinases. All these experiments were done in the presence of specific inhibitors for some of the cell signalling pathways referred above. The obtained results revealed that MEK, JNK and PI3K pathways are involved in fibroin and sericin stimulated cells migration. Inhibition of these three kinases prevented c-Jun upregulation and phosphorylation by fibroin or sericin. Fibroin and sericin were tested in the human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT, with similar results. Altogether, our results showed that fibroin and sericin initiate cell migration by activating the MEK, JNK and PI3K signalling pathways ending in c-Jun activation.

Silk fibroin nanoparticles constitute a vector for controlled release of resveratrol in an experimental model of inflammatory bowel disease in rats

“…It is important to note that the FNPs cannot be considered as an inert carrier in experimental colitis since they had an intestinal anti-inflammatory effect, thus confirming previous observations with this biomaterial, both in vivo and in vitro. 16,18 The synergistic effect obtained in the RL-FNPs was evidenced macroscopically since the lowest damage score was obtained in this group of colitic rats. It is noteworthy that the intestinal anti-inflammatory effects were related to the better recovery of the colonic tissue produced by the treatments in comparison with the colitic control; this ruled out a preventative effect of the treatments since the administration of the different test compounds only started once the damage had been induced.…”

“…In addition, silk fibroin has also shown beneficial effects on wound healing in vivo, 17 through upregulation and phosphorylation of c-Jun, a protein responsible for the migration of keratinocytes in wound healing models. 18 The aim of the present study was to test the intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of fibroin nanoparticles (FNPs) loaded with resveratrol on the trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) experimental model of rat colitis, which resembles human IBD. 19 The combination of the good qualities of fibroin as a delivery vector and the anti-inflammatory and healing effects of its peptides could enhance the therapeutic action of the drug.…”

Silk Peptide Intake Increases Fat Oxidation at Rest in Exercised Mice

“…In recent years, additional applications have been developed for silk, mainly in the field of biotechnology and biomedicine. The versatility of these new implementations arises from the singularity of the molecular structure of silk (6). Proteins such as fibroin and sericin are the main constituents of silk, with fibroin constituting 70 to 80% and sericin 20 to 30% of the total cocoon weight (6,7).…”

Antihyperglycemic Effect of Silkworm Powder, Fibroin and Sericin from Three Thai Silkworm (Bombyx mori Linn.) in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

“…To obtain the desired concentration, the purified silk fibroin was dissolved in deionized water. According, the method proposed by Martínez-Mora et al, 20 the purity of sericin and fibroin were approximately 99%.…”

“…The extraction and separation of sericin and fibroin were performed in accordance with Martínez-Mora et al 20 After the cocoon was formed, pupae were extracted. The empty cocoons were then boiled twice for 45 min in 0.02 M Na 2 CO 3 .…”