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Studies showing that Panax ginseng promotes hair growth have largely been conducted using mice; there are few reports on how P. ginseng affects human hair growth. In particular, little is known about its effect on the telogen to anagen transition. To determine the effect of P. ginseng on human hair growth and the transition from the telogen to the anagen phase. The effects of P. ginseng extract (PGE) and the three major ginsenoside components, Rb1, Rg1, and Re, on the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and human outer root sheath cells (ORSCs) were investigated. The effects of these compounds on the cell expression of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) and Noggin were assessed by real-time PCR. The effect of PGE on hair-shaft elongation was determined in a human hair follicle organ-culture system. PGE and the three ginsenosides stimulated the proliferation of DPCs and ORSCs and suppressed BMP4 expression in DPCs but did not affect FGF18 expression in ORSCs and Noggin expression in DPCs. PGE stimulated hair-shaft growth. PGE and the ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Re stimulate the transition from the telogen phase to anagen phase of the hair cycle by suppressing BMP4 expression in DPCs. These compounds might be useful for promoting the growth of human hair.

Gold-based nanoparticles hold promise as functional nanomedicines, including in combination with a photothermal effect for cancer therapy in conjunction with chemotherapy. Here, we synthesized hollow gold nanoparticles (HGNPs) exhibiting efficient light absorption in the near-IR (NIR) region. Several synthesis conditions were explored and provided monodisperse HGNPs approximately 95-135 nm in diameter with a light absorbance range of approximately 600-720 nm. The HGNPs were hollow and the surface had protruding structures when prepared using high concentrations of HAuCl₄. The simultaneous nucleation of a sacrificial AgCl template and Au nanoparticles may affect the resulting HGNPs. Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) is metabolized from disulfiram and is a repurposed drug currently attracting attention. The chelation of DDTC with copper ion (DDTC-Cu) has been investigated for treating glioma, and here we confirmed the cytotoxic effect of DDTC-Cu towards rat C6 glioma cells in vitro. HGNPs alone were biocompatible and showed little cytotoxicity, whereas a mixture of DDTC-Cu and HGNPs was cytotoxic in a dose dependent manner. The temperature of HGNPs was increased by NIR-laser irradiation. The photothermal effect on HGNPs under NIR-laser irradiation resulted in cytotoxicity towards C6 cells and was dependent on the irradiation time. Photothermal therapy by HGNPs combined and DDTC-Cu was highly effective, suggesting that this combination approach hold promise as a future glioma therapy.

Transcriptional activation, based on Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) and known as CRISPR activation (CRISPRa), is a specific and safe tool to upregulate endogenous genes. Therefore, CRISPRa is valuable not only for analysis of molecular mechanisms of cellular events, but also for treatment of various diseases. Regulating autophagy has been proposed to enhance effects of some therapies. In this study, we upregulated genes for phosphoinositide phosphatases, SACM1L, PIP4P1, and PIP4P2, using CRISPRa, and their effects on autophagy were examined. Our results suggested that TMEM55A/PIP4P2, a phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 4-phosphatase, positively regulates basal autophagy in 293A cells. Furthermore, it was also suggested that SAC1, a phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphatase, negatively regulates basal autophagic degradation.

We previously reported that the sustained component of contraction induced by depolarizing stimulation by high K⁺ concentration in rat caudal arterial smooth muscle involves a Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ sensitization mechanism whereby Ca²⁺ entry through voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels activates proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), leading to activation of RhoA/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK). In the present study, we investigated a potential role for Pyk2-mediated RhoA/ROCK activation in contraction mediated by elevation of cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) induced by a Ca²⁺ ionophore, ionomycin, rather than by depolarizing stimulation. Ionomycin (60 µM) induced slow and sustained contraction of rat caudal arterial smooth muscle due to influx of Ca²⁺. Pre-treatment with a myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) inhibitor, ML-9 (30 µM), inhibited both the early phase (4 min) and the sustained phase (30 min) of ionomycin-induced contraction. On the other hand, a ROCK inhibitor, HA-1077 (3 µM), and Pyk2 inhibitors, sodium salicylate (10 mM) and PF-431396 (3 µM), suppressed only the sustained phase of ionomycin-induced contraction. A calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor, W-7 (150 µM), but not W-5 (150 µM), suppressed the early phase of contraction. Early or sustained increase of ionomycin-induced 20 kDa light chain of myosin (LC₂₀) phosphorylation was inhibited by each inhibitor in a manner similar to the attenuation of contraction. These results indicate that the early phase of ionomycin-induced contraction is mediated by MLCK activation by [Ca²⁺]_i elevation, whereas the sustained phase of ionomycin-induced contraction involves RhoA/ROCK activation and inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) through CaM-independent Pyk2 activation by [Ca²⁺]_i elevation.

The oleo-gum-resin of Boswellia serrata, an Ayurvedic herb for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, contains both volatile (terpenes) and nonvolatile (boswellic acids) molecules as responsible for its bioactivity. The present randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study evaluated the human pharmacokinetics of a 'natural' hybrid-hydrogel formulation of a unique full-spectrum boswellia extract (BFQ-20) (standardized for both volatile and nonvolatile bioactives) in comparison with unformulated extract (U-BE), for the first time. Mass spectrometry coupled with LC (UPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography (GC-MS/MS) measurements of the plasma concentration of boswellic acids and α-thujene at different post-administration time points followed by a single dose (400 mg) of U-BE and BFQ-20, to healthy volunteers (n = 16), offered 4-fold enhancement in the overall bioavailability of boswellic acids from BFQ-20, [area under the curve (AUC) (BFQ-20) = 9484.17 ± 767.82 ng * h/mL vs. AUC (U-BE) = 2365.87 ± 346.89 ng * h/mL], with the absorption maximum (T_max) at 6.3 h post-administration and elimination half-life (T_1/2) of 15.5 h (p < 0.001). While plasma α-thujene was not detectable upon U-BE administration, BFQ-20 provided significant absorption, [AUC (BFQ-20): 298.60 ± 35.48 ng * h/mL; C_max: 68.80 ± 18.60 ng/mL; T_max: 4.12 ± 0.38 h; T_1/2: 16.24 ± 1.12 h]. Further investigation of the anti-inflammatory effect revealed 70.5% inhibition of paw edema in rats compared to 38.0% for U-BE. In summary, the natural self-emulsifying reversible hybrid-hydrogel (N'SERH) formulation of boswellia extract using fenugreek mucilage (FenuMat^®) significantly increased the solubility (58-fold), stability, and bioavailability of both the volatile and non-volatile bioactives which in turn improved the anti-inflammatory efficacy of Boswellia extract.

Though the physiological effects of adenosine and adenine nucleotides on purinergic receptors in cancer cells have been well studied, the influence of extracellular guanosine and guanine nucleotides on breast cancer cells remains unclear. Here, we show that extracellular guanosine and guanine nucleotides decrease the viability and proliferation of human breast cancer SKBR-3 cells. Treatment with guanosine or guanine nucleotides increased mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and modified the cell cycle. Guanosine-induced cell death was suppressed by treatment with adenosine or the equilibrium nucleoside transporter (ENT) 1/2 inhibitor dipyridamole, but was not affected by adenosine receptor agonists or antagonists. These results suggest that guanosine inhibits adenosine uptake through ENT1/2, but does not antagonize adenosine receptors. In contrast, guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-induced cell death was suppressed not only by adenosine and dipyridamole, but also by the A1 receptor agonist 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), suggesting that GTP-induced cell death is mediated in part by an antagonistic effect on adenosine A1 receptor. Thus, both guanosine and GTP induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells, but via at least partially different mechanisms.

Residual cancer cells after radiation therapy may acquire malignant phenotypes such as enhanced motility and migration ability, and therefore it is important to identify targets for preventing radiation-induced malignancy in order to increase the effectiveness of radiotherapy. G-Protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) such as adenosine A2B receptor and cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2, and GPR55) may be involved, as they are known to have roles in proliferation, invasion, migration and tumor growth. In this study, we investigated the involvement of A2B and cannabinoid receptors in γ-radiation-induced enhancement of cell migration and actin remodeling, as well as the involvement of cannabinoid receptors in cell migration enhancement via activation of A2B receptor in human lung cancer A549 cells. Antagonists or knockdown of A2B, CB1, CB2, or GPR55 receptor suppressed γ-radiation-induced cell migration and actin remodeling. Furthermore, BAY60-6583 (an A2B receptor-specific agonist) enhanced cell migration and actin remodeling in A549 cells, and this enhancement was suppressed by antagonists or knockdown of CB2 or GPR55, though not CB1 receptor. Our results indicate that A2B receptors and cannabinoid CB1, CB2, and GPR55 receptors all contribute to γ-radiation-induced acquisition of malignant phenotypes, and in particular that interactions of A2B receptor and cannabinoid CB2 and GPR55 receptors play a role in promoting cell migration and actin remodeling. A2B receptor-cannabinoid receptor pathways may be promising targets for blocking the appearance of malignant phenotypes during radiotherapy of lung cancer.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) are potentially life-threatening severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions. These diseases are rare, and their onset is difficult to predict because of their idiosyncratic reactivity. The Japan Severe Adverse Reactions Research Group, led by the National Institute of Health Sciences, has operated a nationwide to collect clinical information and genomic samples from patients with SJS/TEN since 2006. This study evaluated the associations of clinical symptoms with sequelae and specific causative drugs/drug groups in Japanese patients with SJS/TEN to identify clinical clues for SJS/TEN treatment and prognosis. Acetaminophen, antibiotics, and carbocisteine were linked to high frequencies of severe ocular symptoms and ocular sequelae (p < 0.05). For erythema and erosion areas, antipyretic analgesics had higher rates of skin symptom affecting <10% of the skin than the other drugs, suggesting narrower lesions (p < 0.004). Hepatic dysfunction, was common in both SJS and TEN, and antiepileptic drugs carried higher risks of hepatic dysfunction than the other drug groups (p = 0.0032). This study revealed that the clinical manifestations of SJS/TEN vary according to the causative drugs.

Recently, mitochondrial dysfunction has gained attention as a causative factor in the pathogenesis and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Mitochondrial damage plays a key role in metabolism and disrupts the balance of intracellular metabolic pathways, such as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and glycolysis. In this study, we focused on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), a major constituent of drusen that accumulates in the retina of patients with AMD, and investigated whether it could be a causative factor for metabolic alterations in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. We found that prolonged exposure to ox-LDL induced changes in fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO), OXPHOS, and glycolytic activity and increased the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production in RPE cells. Notably, the effects on metabolic alterations varied with the concentration and duration of ox-LDL treatment. In addition, we addressed the limitations of using ARPE-19 cells for retinal disease research by highlighting their lower barrier function and FAO activity compared to those of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE cells. Our findings can aid in the elucidation of mechanisms underlying the metabolic alterations in AMD.